MP calls for £500m to repair Cambridgeshire's peat soil roads

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 27 Oct, 12:02 · Archive

Charlotte Cane MP has launched a petition for government funding to rebuild Cambridgeshire roads built on weak peat soil.

Charlotte Cane, the Liberal Democrat MP for Ely and East Cambridgeshire, has launched a petition calling for government funding to repair roads built on weak peat soil. She is urging residents to sign the petition to secure cash for rebuilding soil-affected roads (SARs), which deteriorate faster than conventional roads because they expand and contract with the weather.

Almost all of Fenland and a large proportion of Cambridgeshire—around 1,800 kilometres or 40 per cent of the road network—is built on peat soil. Ms Cane said residents are frustrated by roads that "seem to fall apart almost as quickly as they are repaired" and that "patchwork repairs simply aren't enough—these roads need rebuilding at an estimated cost of around £500 million—something the council budget cannot absorb."

On 23 October, Ms Cane visited Cambridgeshire County Council's trial site on Upwell Road near March, where new repair methods are being tested to address the problem.

MP calls for £500m to repair Cambridgeshire's peat soil roads — Image: Ely Standard

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How it is being reported

MP pushes for £500 million to repair Cambridgeshire roads built on weak soilCharlotte Cane MP has launched a petition calling for funds to repair Cambridgeshire roads that "seem to fall apart almost as quickly as they are repaired".Ely Standard · 27 Oct, 11:29
MP pushes for £500 million to repair Cambridgeshire roads built on weak soilCharlotte Cane MP has launched a petition calling for funds to repair Cambridgeshire roads that "seem to fall apart almost as quickly as they are repaired".Cambs Times · 27 Oct, 11:29

In this story: Charlotte Cane · Ely and East Cambridgeshire · Cambridgeshire · Cambridgeshire County Council · Fenland · March · Upwell Road

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