All Consultations

Spokes has recently seen a number of applications for outline permission to demolish houses and replace them with a greater density of flats and apartments. These development proposals are mostly for areas surrounding Newbury and Thatcham town centres - particularly the Westfields area.

In principle these higher density dwellings offer the opportunity for greater sustainability and increased levels of cycling in the district, therefore we are generally supportive of such schemes. However, we are disappointed that, in general, the outline proposals fail to recognise that provisioning and enabling sustainable transport choices practically means providing for safe and secure cycle parking.

Our comments on the schemes have been limited to issues relating to cycling. Although, at a personal level we recognise there may be concern over the bulk and density of the development proposals, and the potential loss of some handsome old dwellings, these are matters which do not have a negative impact for cycling or cyclists, thus Spokes cannot take a stance against the developments on these grounds.

Spokes supports these developments so long as the issues of cycle parking are adequately considered.

Spokes has achieved another major success in its goals of improving conditions for cyclists in the district; from December 12th 2004 cycles will be allowed on First Great Western and FGW Link rail services without any charge.

By working with FGW through consultations in 2004, we have advised on policies which might best increase cycle usage as transport to and from its stations. Amongst Spokes' suggestions was a lifting of charges which discourage cyclists from taking their cycles on trains. Other suggestions made by Spokes are for improvements to cycle parking at stations, including increasing the supply of secure storage, such as the well used cycle lockers which can can be found at Newbury and Thatcham stations.

Spokes has received proposals for improvements to the bridleway which connects the Greenham section of New Rd to the Newbury section.

Spokes welcomes these proposals which have the potential to significantly improve the conditions for cyclists. However, as is usual, we found that many elements of the design have not been fully considered. Spokes has submitted detailed comments on best implementation to WBC. We await WBC's comments.

Spokes met with West Berkshire Council (WBC) engineers on-site on 17th Nov, to discuss our reservations about the implementation of the, so called, environmental improvements. It became clear that WBC are entrenched in their view that Pipers Lane must become one-way, and have indeed already started the process which will lead to the traffic regulation order (TRO) which introduces it. This is coupled with an explicit request from Thatcham Town Council that a footway is introduced along the entire length of Pipers Lane as part of the scheme.

Spokes continues to express its concern that this implementation will only result in making offenders of those cyclists who have no reasonable quiet alternative to reach the station from the immediate east and north-east. Spokes has offered advice on how to resolve this awkward situation, though the use of a shared-use footway, which we feel may be the best compromise in this situation.

Other matters which met with a more positive response from WBC during our discussions were: improvements to the cycle parking proposals (which may even eventually extend to providing covered stands!), a proper westward cycling exit from the station onto Station Rd, and ensuring the safety of southbound cyclists on Station Rd cycling past the enlarged station entrance.

Consultation has now ended and we await the final scheme design from WBC.

In July 2004 Spokes was informed by the local authority of a plan to introduce a shared-use footway cycling facility on the A4 Bath Rd East of Thatcham. It is not clear whose idea it was, but the scheme is intended to be paid for as part of a maintenance budget for A4.

Spokes has met with the engineer responsible for implementation. At the meeting it was made clear that no thought had been given to the design of the scheme, it was no more than "make this footway into a shared-use track with any spare money from the road maintenance budget".

Spokes' general policy is not supportive of shared-use schemes (see our policy document in the policy section of the web site), and we made it clear that we would not propose such a scheme. However, since the authority is intent on its construction, Spokes took a pragmatic approach and advised on how the scheme might be best implemented to acheive a least-worst facility. The aspects of the scheme about which we were most concerned were:

• the detail of how the shared-use footway would cross side-roads and driveways whilst maintaining the priority of the cycle track user,
• how the shared-use footway would avoid putting pedestrians and cyclists in direct conflict at bus stops,
• how to address issues with sight lines and deviations at the bus stop lay-bys, and
• how to ensure that cyclists cycling "against" the flow of traffic at night can clearly see the edge of the cycle track (adjacent to the carriageway) even when motor vehicle headlights are shining in their eyes.

We offered the highways engineer solutions to each of these problems but we have yet to see the revised and final plan drawings. We are hopeful that our advice will be followed and will make this implementation successful.

The scheme was scheduled to be completed by the end of August, but this deadline has not been me, with very little of the work having yet been completed. Watch this space.

Through consultation with Spokes the Newtown Road North development (which encompasses changes St John Roads Roundabout and Enborne Road) will now have advanced stop lines (the first in West Berkshire) and standard width cycle lanes.

Additionally the scheme will include cycle lanes around the roundabout, also a first for West Berkshire and something of a trial. Where car parking bays exist there will be chevrons that indicate to the car driver not to park in the bike lane but also for the cyclist to be aware that cars, specifically car doors, are a hazard.