Locals in a UK new build “ghost town” have expressed their frustration at developers for leaving them without a high street.
Cambourne, located just a few miles from Cambridge, lacks basic amenities such as a post office, newsagent, and convenience store.
In West Cambourne, the newly built area, there are no buses, despite the presence of bus stop signs. There are also proposals to build another 30 townhouses and 87 flats instead of the shops that were planned in the 1990s.
One disgruntled man voiced his anger to The Sun: “It’s s**”. Absolute s**”. They just want to make money by building more houses and forget about amenities for the people who live here.”
Danny Dove, sitting outside the town’s only pub, also expressed frustration at the lack of things to do. He said: “Apart from this place there’s not much to do here. It’s a bit of a ghost town really.”
Seyi Daramola, who recently moved from north London to Cambourne, agreed that bringing in more businesses would “add a bit of character to the town”.
As well as lacking in activities and amenities, Cambourne is also struggling to deal with the number of people who now live there since the new build areas popped up.
This is a particularly noticeable issue when it comes to getting a GP appointment, with the local surgery being over-subscribed making it “virtually impossible” to see a doctor.
Gaynor Cooke moved to Cambourne in 2003 and noticed there’s been “broken promises” in the 21 years since as developers looked to entice people with pledges of a market square and golf course, but these never materialised.
She said: “There have been a lot of broken promises. We were supposed to have a market square, but nothing happened with that. There was even talk of a golf course, but we didn’t get that either.
“Instead we just ended up with a load of estate agents. It would be nice to have some small, unique shops, if only a greengrocers. A bit of variety would be lovely.”
Newcrest Cambourne Ltd has applied for planning permission for new homes and argues that they’re necessary to make a scheme, which contains “several” new retail units, “commercially viable”.
They claim the “mix of uses will add to the vibrancy of the town centre bringing people living in the town centre”, but there have already been objections.
One resident voiced to South Cambridgeshire District Council: “The area really ought to be filled with just shops, community spaces and, if any residential at all, it should all be social and affordable housing only.”
Another resident claimed it was “outrageous” that homes were “being squeezed in to the detriment of the purpose of the high street” and added: “The proposed application is not appropriate for the community.”
South Cambridgeshire District Council’s Lead Cabinet Member for Communities, Cllr Henry Batchelor, commented: “Cambourne is a successful and beautiful place to live and work and the amount of open space and woodland is second to none for a new town.
“There’s a strong community engaged in all sorts of innovative projects and activities for all ages alongside a supermarket, shops and convenience stores, hotels, schools and superb sports facilities.”
“Meanwhile, we are in the process of determining a planning application which proposes further retail space on the high street alongside new homes.
“Our aim, working with our partners, such as Cambourne’s excellent Town Council and residents, is to continue creating a vibrant town with an exemplary transport network that connects communities, allowing people the choice to leave their cars at home.”