WORK to clear the site of the 500-space park-and-ride facility in St Ives for the Huntingdon-Cambridge guided bus link is expected to start any day. The guideway is being built on the route of the former St Ives-Cambridge railway line, and buses have been

WORK to clear the site of the 500-space park-and-ride facility in St Ives for the Huntingdon-Cambridge guided bus link is expected to start any day.

The guideway is being built on the route of the former St Ives-Cambridge railway line, and buses have been trialled successfully on a stretch near Oakington airfield - where the 9,500-home new town of Northstowe will be built over the next 15 years.

There will be space to expand the park-and-ride facility in Meadow Lane to accommodate 1,000 if demand warrants it.

Bus using the guideway will take around 17 minutes to reach Cambridge Science Park, travelling by way of Fen Drayton, Swavesey, Longstanton, Oakington, Histon & Impington and Cambridge Regional College. They will continue to Cambridge, with some extended to the railway station, Addenbrooke's and Trumpington.

Bob Menzies, Cambridgeshire County Council's head of delivery for the guided busway, said yesterday (Tuesday): "The park-and-ride site is going to be a huge asset for St Ives. I have no doubt that many St Ives residents will choose to park and ride from St Ives into Cambridge on the busway, rather than face delays and traffic jams on the A14."

An ecologist will be on site to ensure nesting birds are not disturbed during the clearance.

Work will take place during daylight hours Monday to Friday and, when required, on Saturdays until 1pm.