Town vs gown and car vs bike: row erupts over Cambridge congestion plan

Many people in Cambridge rely on bikes to get around, but it makes particular sense for those whose lives revolve around the city centre. Photograph: Andrew Couldridge/Reuters

In 1381, a mob sacked university buildings and burned books in the town square, shouting: “Away with the learning of clerks!” More recently, battle lines have been drawn over plans to build homes on green belt land and attempts to ban wild swimming in the river Cam.

Now, tensions between town and gown are rising again in Cambridge. This time, it’s over proposals to introduce a £5 congestion charge on weekday car journeys to the city, with a protest march to Parker’s Piece common planned for 27 November.