Revised travel plans for Cambridgeshire should ease 'war on motorists' says councillor
He's won support on calling for alternative plans to improve transport
People in Cambridgeshire who're struggling the most could be hit the hardest if other ways to improve transport aren't in place.
That's the view of Fenland district councillor Doctor Haq Nawaz, who wants to end what's been labelled a 'war on motorists' after proposals were turned down last month.
Cllr Dr Nawaz has won the support of other district councillors after Fenland Council vowed to reject plans to introduce measures, such as road charging and congestion charging, for motorists.
He says some people don't have another option other than to use their car:
"It is not a choice or an option, it is a necessity and to punish them, this is going to hit the people who are less well off," he said.
"We have a shortage of public transport and the alternative has to be more buses, more trains, more frequently covering more areas."
Original plans to improve transport in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough have been labelled by councillors as a 'war on motorists'.
"People use cars not just for leisure and pleasure"
Fenland Council has also called for these plans to be revised, such as considering opposition in some districts to implement ideas like road charging.
The Local Transport and Connectivity Plan, put forward by Dr Nik Johnson, mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, highlighted six goals including the aim of reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
"We want to achieve those goals but we want to do it in a way that doesn't punish the motorist," Cllr Dr Hawaz said.
"People use cars not just for leisure and pleasure, they need to go to work, they may be self-employed.
"If there is a will (to improve transport for Cambridgeshire), there's a way, we can do it; it's got to be practical solutions that we should be looking for."
Cambridgeshire County Council is due to discuss a new transport plan on October 17.