Cambridge Online City

 Cam Valley Forum  

The Cam Valley Forum was set up in response to concerns about the future of the River Cam and its tributaries in the face of pressure on the Cambridge area from planned future development.

Our aims and plans Map of the Cam
Join Cam Valley forum Projects
Contact us River links
Photographs

The river brings an almost continuous green corridor through the heart of Cambridge and provides links out into the countryside.

The upper Cam between Newnham and Grantchester.
© Christine Jennings
Pollution concern at Hauxton
The riverside site, previously occupied by Bayer Crop Sciences, is heavily polluted with chemicals left behind by successive agro-chemical firms. Pollution has leaked into the river and onto adjoining land, and a more serious problem threatens as a benthamite wall (built to retain the pollutants) is coming to the end of its useful life. The forum raised objections to recent planning applications relating to this site: one to demolish the buildings and clean-up the pollution, and the other to develop the site with housing and light industry. Permission has now been given for the remediation of the site, subject to many conditions, but we remain concerned that the district council does not have the expertise to monitor that the process is carried out effectively. We are also anxious that, if planning permission is given to develop this site with housing and light industry, development should not begin until the whole site has been cleaned up. If you share our concern we suggest you contact a South Cambridgeshire District councillor.
Grantchester Meadows carrying out its traditional function of holding flood water and protecting the city.
© Christine Jennings

For centuries the river's low lying wet meadows have provided valuable flood protection for the city.

 The otter has been returning to the Cam and its tributaries, but much work remains to be done.
© John Green

Although parts of the riverside are carefully protected and managed, in recent years much of its wildlife value has been lost with intensive farming and the fragmentation of semi-natural habitats.

Pollarded willows are a traditional element of the Cam landscape, but need management and replacement.


The Cambridge area is now under pressure to accommodate considerable growth of housing and employment. It is vital that this growth respects the character of the riverscape setting. The best features must be protected, and conditions improved for wildlife to flourish and for people to enjoy the river and its environs.
© Christine Jennings

All pictures on this website are copyright and may not be reproduced without permission.

Homepage | Aims and plans | Contact us | Map of the Cam | Projects | River links | Photographs