Grafham to Brampton Quiet Lane Pilot Project

A Quiet Lane is a designated minor rural road intended to prioritise walking, wheeling, cycling, horseriding and other non-motorised users over motor traffic.

They are designed to enable non-motorised users to enjoy using rural roads. They do this by improving safety and encouraging motor vehicles to slow down.

A safer environment for non-motorised users on a Quiet Lane is usually achieved by

• lowering speed limits
• adding signage 
• providing traffic-calming measures.

These should be in keeping with the local character of the area. Examples of measures include soft landscaping, road surface treatments and high visibility signage.

Current legislation does not state that any user group has priority on a Quiet Lane and the use is therefore shared.

The Highway Code states that Quiet Lanes ‘are places where people could be using the whole of the road for a range of activities, including people walking, wheeling and cycling or children playing. You should drive slowly and carefully and be prepared to stop to allow people extra time to make space for you to pass them in safety’.

Quiet Lanes are intended to reduce vehicle speeds and improve road conditions for active travel and other non-motorised activities. This includes walking, wheeling (wheelchairs, motorised scooters etc), cycling and horse riding.

Brampton Road is a designated National Cycle Network (NCN) route, forming part of NCN12.

The County Council is working in collaboration with Sustrans. As custodians of the NCN, they are responsible for its maintenance and improvement. Funding for this project has been provided by Active Travel England, a national government executive agency.

The project and the development of design ideas has been community led. The project team has been engaging with the local community to co-design interventions which enable all road users to share the space safely and considerately.

Sustrans is the ‘custodian’ of the National Cycle Network and experienced in delivery (engagement, transport planning and engineering) of changes to streets and spaces.

Sustrans has been funded by the Department of Transport (via Active Travel England) to work in partnership with Cambridgeshire County Council to carry out engagement and to look at how rural roads could be improved to make them safer for walking, cycling, wheeling (wheelchair etc) and horse riding.

The relatively low numbers of people walking and cycling on Brampton Road. The fact local residents are limited to primarily relying on private motor vehicles (as opposed, where appropriate, to using a cycle).

Vehicle speeds of in excess of 35mph can be entirely inappropriate for the conditions on the road and are detrimental to encouraging wider participation, particularly from more vulnerable groups.

Sustrans are committed improving the National Cycle Network, which ranks Brampton Road as currently ‘poor’ for cycling.  

A meaningful opportunity to test proposed changes to the highway that provide an opportunity for wider participation in walking, cycling, wheeling, and other non-motorised activities such as horse riding.

Any proposed changes are being developed in close collaboration with local residents and other stakeholders. 

Once the public meeting on 15 May has been held, there is a 21-day consultation period in which residents can make representations on the Quiet Lane. Subject to any representations, proposal of a designation shall then be published in a local newspaper, followed by a further 21-day consultation.

Residents of much of Brampton, Grafham, Perry, Buckden, and Ellington will have received an update letter w/c 18 November 2024. This was supported by communications that went out to councillors w/c 11 November 2024. 

Communication with local councillors, who will share information accordingly, will continue and posters will be placed in key local locations advertising specific design workshops in the new year as well as online promotion on this webpage and local media.

If you do not have access to the internet or have other accessibility concerns, please contact Sustrans on 0207-017-2350 and speak to Adrian Hooper or Ben Addy.

The co-design process has taken two phases:

Phase one ran from late 2024 to early 2025 and involved a series of events to develop an understanding of local issues and opportunities. Two online briefing sessions were delivered for local councillors in October 2024. Two community events were held in November 2024 with a focus on residents being able to share their views and experiences on Brampton Road. Pop-up events were also held in Huntingdon, Brampton and Grafham.

Phase two ran from January 2025 to March 2025 and involved further councillor briefings and a series of co-design workshops with the purpose of developing design ideas to improve Brampton Road. Two online briefing sessions were delivered for local councillors in January 2025. Two co-design workshops were held in February and March 2025. A survey was also advertised and distributed across a wider area to capture additional feedback.

Trial interventions along the Quiet Lane will be monitored for at least 12 months, after which time the trial will be evaluated. Trial interventions will be installed over a period of time, starting in summer 2025.

As you enter the Quiet Lane, 20mph signs will be clearly visible. It’s important to raise awareness of the Quiet Lane by spreading the word and ensuring others understand what is expected on the road. Cambridgeshire County Council and Sustrans will engage with local residents as much as possible.

In the first instance, whilst the trial is underway, please contact activetravel@cambridgeshire.gov.uk. If necessary, colleagues within the active travel team will forward on any correspondence to other departments to resolve the issue.