Vision for Cambourne endures as new town turns 25

A new town once blighted by social isolation has "knuckled down and really become a wonderful place" as it turns 25, a councillor has said.

The first residents moved into Cambourne, between Cambridge and St Neots, in September 1999.

Despite promises of a railway station and the lack of a high street, locals have praised its strong sense of community and green spaces.

Councillor Mark Howell said: "The 'Cambourne Blues' isn't an expression I tend to hear anymore."

In the late 1980s, as part of plans to build thousands of new homes in the south-east of England, a new settlement on 400 hectares of former agricultural land - nine miles west of Cambridge - was considered.

Planning permission for the development was granted in November 1996, and construction began in June 1998. The first residents moved into properties the following year.

Cambourne now has a population of 11,000.

The name Cambourne was created as a combination of Cambridge, the nearest city, and Bourn, a nearby village.

Mark Howell, a county councillor for Cambourne, said: "There was clearly a need for more houses.

"The thinking was to avoid having to put houses throughout the district with every village having to take 100 or 200.

"So the thinking was to put them all together, hence the town of Cambourne, which is now a combination of greater, upper and lower Cambourne. The town council made it official five years ago."

Mr Howell added that before the building work began, the original vision was "not buildings, not the community centre - but the people".

"We had some really big problems here at first, mainly with social isolation - [and] we had a massive birth rate," he said.

"But its knuckled down and really become a wonderful place. 'Cambourne Blues' isn't an expression I tend to hear anymore."

Hasan Mustafa, 42, who has lived in Cambourne for 15 years, said: "It's a good neighbourhood.

"There's lots of new people coming. Lots of green space. I like everything here other than the wind - it's too windy.

"The bus service isn't great. It's often late," he added.

On the East West Rail line's proposals for a station at Cambourne, Mr Mustafa added: "They've been talking about that for quite some time."

Richard and Jill Hynes, both 78, moved to Cambourne from nearby Eaton Socon 21 years ago, to be nearer their daughter.

Their house was only two years old when they bought it.

Mrs Hynes said: "It's starting to get a bit scruffy - lots of litter. Not a lot of maintenance going on. It's expanding an awful lot. But not in the way of shops.

"We were supposed to get a high street, but that's been promised for 20 years, and not materialised yet."

Mr Hynes added: "Now that West Cambourne is being built, we worry about how the current infrastructure will cope. Although the bus service is quite good, the main bus stop outside Morrisons doesn't even have a shelter."

Mrs Hynes added: "Generally, the main upkeep has gone downhill a bit.

"But we're quite happy - obviously we're retired, we don't have to get to work, and we have our bus passes - so we think the bus service is good. We're quite happy here."

Kara Chapman, 35, has lived in Cambourne since 2014.

"I have a 10-year-old son - and it's great for children," she said.

"Obviously there's loads to do. Lots of our children get together.

"Lots of community things happen, like on the cricket pavilion, summer fetes - its good for the kids."

She added: "They started building Cambourne when I was at school in Comberton. It's gone really quick. I can't believe it's been 25 years.

"There's a lot more here than there used to be - but still not enough - in terms of shops, and places to visit.

"It would be good if there was actually a high street. A Post Office would be a good starting point."

Ms Chapman said that the community was Cambourne's best feature.

Bridget Smith, a Liberal Democrat councillor and leader of South Cambridgeshire District Council, said she believed that the town had had a successful 25 years.

"Cambourne is a successful and beautiful place to live and work with a really strong community engaged in all sorts of innovative projects and activities," she said.

"Our vision remains to work with our partners, the Town Council and residents to continue to create a vibrant town with an exemplar transport network that connects communities and which even allows people the choice to leave their cars at home.

"We particularly look forward to updates from East West Rail and welcome the train station proposed for Cambourne."

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