A campaign has been launched to bring about the downgrading of the A1421 - which joins Haddenham to Witcham Toll - from an A road to a B road. 

Cambridgeshire County Councillor, Bill Hunt and chairman of Haddenham Parish Council, Stephen Thompson say they are working together to make local villages cleaner and safer for walkers, cyclists and other road users. 

The pair are hoping to get the A1421 downgraded as it will make it easier to get speed reduction measures introduced and reduce HCV volumes. 

A roads are designated trunk roads. They comprise of single carriageway roads as well as dual carriageway roads and the speed limit on them varies between 20mph and 70mph depending on whether you are in a rural or urban area. 

B roads are classes as minor roads that connect small towns and villages or offer an alternative route to major roads.

Speed limits can vary but the national speed limit usually applies because these type of roads are not policed as regularly as major routes. 

Cllr Hunt and Cllr Thompson say they know many drivers use Stretham, Wilburton and Haddenham as “rat-run” in order to avoid Ely. 

Cllr Thompson said: “We want to reduce and slow down the traffic that makes our villages polluted and frightening for pedestrians, young and old.” 

Cllr Hunt is preparing a motion for the next full county council meeting and is trusting that members from all political parties will see the “common sense” of the motion and support the proposal. 

The councillors are working with neighbouring parish councils, East Cambridgeshire District Council and South East Cambridgeshire MP, Lucy Frazer to secure cross-party support. 

The Ely Standard approached Cambridgeshire County Council for a comment on the proposed motion, a spokesperson said that it “wouldn’t be inappropriate” for them to comment on political matters. 

The spokesperson added: “We are always happy to comment on full council motions after they have taken place.”