Improving Thetford Cycling Provision. In and Around Thetford

Transcription

1 Improving Cycling Provision In and Around Thetford Presentation to Thetford Town Council July 2015

2 About Me Lecturer in Mathematics at the University of East Anglia Keen recreational cyclist Volunteer with Sustrans, the sustainable transport charity that maintains the National Cycle Network. Group Coordinator for the Sustrans Breckland and Waveney Valley volunteer group.

3 Benefits of Cycling Health & Fitness Loose weight, improve fitness, stay healthier. Help the Environment No harmful emissions. More fuel efficient than driving. Cost & Mobility Cheaper than travelling by car or public transport. Increased mobility for those without access to cars. Beat Traffic Congestion Cycling can be quicker in congested areas. Congestion reduced for remaining drivers too.

4 Thetford to High Lodge Link: Justification Thetford High Lodge Population: 24,340 Almost 10,000 households 23% of households do not have access to a car or van. (2011 census data) Cafe and toilets Over 50 items of outdoor play equipment 36 miles of cycle trails 8 miles of walking trails Orienteering course Go Ape and Segways River Ouse, major roads and the railway all form barriers to prevent easy access. A few unofficial routes already exist, but some minor improvements, legal permissions and signage are needed.

5 Thetford to High Lodge Link: Progress to Date Thetford Area Action Plan TH12: Thetford Cycling Loops The Riverside route and the vital link to High Lodge should be the first priority No sign of any action from Breckland council. A11 dualling has cut one proposed loop at Olley s Farm. The Brecks Breaking New Ground Project: Brecks Forest Way A multi-use route [walking, cycling, horse-riding], with short sections and circular paths, connecting Thetford to Brandon along the Little Ouse valley. Project now limited to pedestrian access only between Santon Downham and Thetford.

6 Thetford to High Lodge Link: Proposed Route

7 Thetford to High Lodge Link: Requirements Initial requirements: Permissive access agreements from landowners: Forestry Commission, Crown Estate, Breckland Council Surface improvements on a short stretch west of Middle Stanch foot-bridge. (200m currently boggy and overgrown.) Supply and installation of direction signs. As funding becomes available: Surface / width improvements on riverside path from Canterbury Way to A11. Development of alternative route around B1107 crossing. Crossing island on B1107, north of Thetford Golf Club. Development of alternative riverside path between A11 and Middle Stanch.

8 Thetford to High Lodge Link: Next Steps Gather support for plan from local interest groups and stakeholders, including Thetford Town Council. Meeting with Forestry Commission next month to discuss route options. Liaise with Breckland Council to ensure that the Thetford Sustainable Urban Expansion (SUE) provides funding for this priority route as per TAAP Policy TH12.

9 London Road Cycle Path: Justification New cycle path alongside the dualled A11, linking the Sainsbury s roundabout to the old A11 into Elveden. Would open up a great route out of Thetford for cyclists except the only access is along London Road: Fast-moving traffic 40 mph speed limit Around 700 vehicles per hour in morning peak (2009 traffic survey for Thetford Transport Plan) Need safe traffic-free route to link the new A11 cycle path to the existing Thetford Connect cycle network at St Martin s Way.

10 Cycle Infrastructure Guidelines 1 Source: Handbook for Cycle-Friendly Design, Sustrans 2014.

11 London Road Cycle Path: Route Map

12 London Road Cycle Path: Requirements Initial requirements: Legal order to change pavement into a shared-use path. Clear encroaching grass and undergrowth to allow full use of existing paths. A new crossing island on London Road between the entrance roads to the Forest Retail Park and Lidl. Some widening of the existing path on its narrowest stretches. As funding / resources can be found: Widen remaining stretches of the path to the recommended 3 m. Improve crossing points of Retail park service road, and

13 London Road Cycle Path: Next Steps Get support from local groups and stakeholders, including Thetford Town Council. Meeting tomorrow with Norfolk County Council s Walking and Cycling Champion. Ensure formal plans are in place, so that action can be taken as and when funding becomes available. Liaise with Breckland Council to ensure that the Thetford Sustainable Urban Expansion (SUE) provides funding for this link as per TAAP Policy TH12.

14 Introduction Thetford to High Lodge Link London Road Cycle Path Barriers to Cycling in Thetford Suggested Improvements to Cycling and Walking Papers Other Issues OSM data 2011 CC-BY-SA Openstreetmap.org contributors. Help improve OpenStreetMap by drawing on this map, then visit Pedestrian Infrastructure in Thetford Gap in Thetford Connect Loop. Needs cycle path and crossing point to negotiate A1066. Joe Blunt's Lane should be upgraded from a Public Footpath to a Bridleway. Awkward crossing between Kilverston Road and Joe Blunt's Lane could be improved Main access route to Thetford Forest. Muddy track needs surface improvements. Main access route to Thetford Forest. Riverside path needs some surface and width improvement in places. Dropped curbs needed where Thetford Connect cycle paths meet roads. A crossing point should be provided here to help pedestrians across the A134. Lighting should be provided along Green Lane, at least along the south-western section, for safety in the winter Pavement here should be widened and converted to a shared-use cycle path to link to new estate. Two short sections of Green Lane liable to become muddy wet. Surface improvement Improving Thetford Cyclingwhen Provision works needed.

15 Barriers to Cycling to Cycling around Thetford around Thetford Road crossing staggered by 240m. Creating a track along verge and crossing improvements would allow better access to the Forest. There are two key problems facing cyclists from Thetford: 1. A lack of shorter loops from the Town along quiet roads and reasonably smooth tracks 2. A lack of safe and convenient links to the numerous cycle routes in Thetford Forest East Wretham 13 Stonebridge Poor surface here discourages use of A11 underpass to south. Weeting 30 Brandon Croxton Public footpath along a track. Would be good if this could be at least a permissive bridleway too. High Lodge Key access route to Forest, but narrow and poor surface in places. Bridgham East Harling Could do with better cycle link from Brandon to the Forest Thetford Kilverstone Brettenham Key access route to forest, but short section of path impossbile to cycle due to mud, overgrowth, and fallen trees. Crossing needed at roundabout to restore access to Thetford Forest lost through A11 duallling. Cylists heading SW on cycleway forced to rejoin narrow carriageway here opposite turning loop. Elvedon A new bridge across the A11 at one of these points would provide an excellent link to the Forest. Barnham Old railway line would make a good cycle route to increase loop options from thetford. Northern half of route is already a private farm track. Euston Rushford Trunk road unsuitable for cycling. Adding a cycle track would allow more loops from thetford. 13 Knettishall Coney Weston 30 Public footpath along a track. Would be good if this could be at least a permissive bridleway too. Key Quiet road Medium road Busy road Off-road (paved) Off-road (surface ok) Off-road (poor surface) Questionable legality

16 Any Questions? Please feel free to contact me for further information, or if you have any questions after this meeting: Name: Robert Whittaker Address: Website: