Opposition to a Cambridge congestion charge is impacting some voters in Cambridge ahead of the elections in May 2024.

While the proposals for a Sustainable Travel Zone, which included the potential road charge, were dropped last year, some people in the city are still concerned.

Cambridge City Council is due to hold elections for 14 of its 42 sets on Thursday, May 2.

The King’s Hedges ward saw the only Conservative councillor elected to the city council last year following a by-election where the candidate campaigned against a congestion charge.

The by-election was called after the former Labour councillor resigned, shortly after they had been re-elected in the May election.

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For some voters in the ward the candidate’s views on a congestion charge in Cambridge is a leading concern in this year’s election.

One woman said she still believed a congestion charge was being considered, despite the plans being officially dropped.

She said her opposition to a road charge was the main consideration for her in her decision making on who to vote for.

One man, who did not wish to be named, shared these concerns.

He said: “I will definitely vote locally for the one that doesn’t want a congestion charge, it is ridiculous.”

The man also said he wanted to see more of a focus on providing affordable housing in the city for people who come from the area.

He said: “When my kids moved they could not afford to live in Cambridge, one now lives in Carlisle and one now lives in St Ives.

“The one in Carlisle says he can afford a mortgage out there but he couldn’t get a mortgage in Cambridge and he was working full time from day one. We only see them once or twice a year, I find that quite sad.”

While having these other concerns, he stressed that he would only vote for a candidate who was against a congestion charge.

However, other people in the ward did not raise the congestion charge as being something that was impacting their decision on who to vote for.

Gretta Doggett said she “definitely” planned to vote in the city council elections, but did not have any major concerns.

She said she would like to see more grass cutting, but said she was “quite happy really”.

John Connattey said he was also planning to vote and that his decision would be based on the philosophical viewpoints of the candidate.

He said: “I think philosophically I align myself with Labour, so I would vote Labour.

“I am not that aware of local issues really, I just basically like to back someone with the same philosophical life I live and leave the rest to trust.

“Anyone with right wing or centre right views, I do not want them anywhere near running council.”

Mr Connattey said he also wanted to see support for new homes to be built in the city as he said it was a “desperate situation” and the young people had “no chance of finding a home”.