Tag: West Berkshire Council

Cycling Provision at New Developments

Posted on by Web Editor

New developments usually present an opportunity to provide better cycling facilities within the site or contribute funding towards improvements for cycling provision in their vicinity. Since the introduction of LTN 1/20 there is now government issued guidance for minimum standards to be adhered to in new cycling infrastructure. Therefore, developers have no excuse not to comply.

Unfortunately, this is not always the case as they are not always held to account.

For example, in the new housing development next to the council offices, billed as a ‘gateway to the town centre’, there is no cycling access through the site. Cyclists are directed to dismount and walk their bicycle to/from the train station, a major transport hub and trip generator for the area, or go the long way round via Cheap Street. The planning permission supposedly secured a walking and cycling path through the development, but this has not come to be realised.

Another example of a recent development falling short is the poor cycle parking provision at the former Sterling Cables site, on Kings Road. Anyone visiting the site by bicycle is obliged to use the appalling ‘wheel-grabber’ style cycle racks, which offer no security for locking a bicycle other than through the front wheel.

LTN1/20 explains why these are not fit for purpose:

“Concrete ‘slots’ or metal hoops that support only the front wheel and do not enable the frame to be secured should not be used for public cycle parking. Many cycles are fitted with quick release wheels, and this type of support increases the risk of theft.” (LTN1/20 11.4.2 pg.134)

Not only this, but the wheel-grabber racks are mounted high up on the walls so that users have to up-end their bike to secure the front wheel, which is difficult for some bicycle users who have heavier bikes, baskets, wider tyres or mudguards.

Spokes will be writing to West Berkshire Council’s Planning Department to push for these issues to be addressed.

Eagle Quarter Planning Application

Posted on by Web Editor

The latest planning application for the Eagle Quarter sets out ambitious plans for the redevelopment of the Kennet Centre. Spokes has reviewed the application to see what provision will be made for cyclists and have submitted comments accordingly.

While cycle parking is proposed within the site for use by residents, we have highlighted issues with some of the proposed locations where cyclists would have to ride through the undercroft car park, or through the pedestrianised area within the site to access them. Also, we have raised concerns about the number of doors that cyclists would have to negotiate to access some of the cycle parking areas.

We were disappointed that the transport assessment appeared to assume that there was sufficient on-street cycle parking around the site, without having done a cycle parking audit, so we have asked that this be addressed. There were also a few inconsistencies in the way that the transport assessment considered access by bike to a range of local facilities, which we have also highlighted.

The proposed development would make some significant changes to the road layout, with Northbrook Street becoming two-way between Market Street and the new car park access. Although it is technically not legal for cyclists to travel south between Bridge Street and Market Street, many cyclists do this when the pedestrian and cycle zone is in force between 10am and 5pm. The proposed change would help to improve cycle permeability through the town centre and we have indicated our support for this.

The proposed travel plan for the site is fairly basic and uninspiring, and we have made some suggestions for improvements. However, there is provision for a cycle workshop within the site, which we support.

Further information on the Eagle Quarter proposals can be found here: https://www.eaglequarter.com/

If you would like to view / comment on the planning application, you can do so here:
http://planning.westberks.gov.uk/rpp/index.asp?caseref=23/02094/FULMAJ

The planning application is likely to be considered by the Council’s Western Area Planning Committee early in the New Year.

Andover Road Cycle Route

Posted on by Secretary

The lower section of Andover Road in Newbury is being upgraded between the St John’s roundabout and Buckingham Road, where resurfacing works are being combined with improvements to the cycle route and parking.

Cyclists heading south away from town, are now taken off the carriageway immediately after the pedestrian crossing and are given priority across Old Newtown Road. This is a welcome improvement. The markings from the previous cycle lane had almost entirely been scrubbed away by encroaching vehicles, which illustrated how little room there was for cyclists at this point.

South of Old Newtown Road, there is a short section of shared path, which takes cyclists behind an enlarged parking bay and relocated bus bay, before the cycle route splits from the footway to run alongside the carriageway as before.  The route then drops back to carriageway level before reaching Wendan Road and continues as far as the pelican crossing. The route fizzles out beyond the crossing where the carriageway narrows.

In the northbound direction, the route is a continuous on-carriageway cycle lane, between Wendan Road and St John’s roundabout. Spokes has been assured that double yellow lines will be provided to prevent cars from parking in the cycle lane. This has been facilitated by providing the enlarged parking bay on the other side of the road to cater for those residents who have no off-road parking.

Other improvements that are expected imminently include improved cycle markings on the exit from St John’s roundabout and a smoother transition between the raised and on-carriageway sections of cycle route on the southbound approach to Wendan Road.

Spokes broadly welcomes the scheme, which addresses some long-running concerns, particularly with parking in the cycle lane. However, it’s by no means perfect – the southbound route around the tree and bus stop involves some significant changes of direction that slow cyclists down, the on-carriageway sections lack any sort of physical protection, and it would be good to have some cycle markings painted on the carriageway where the route crosses Wendan Road.

A4 Western Avenue Cycle Route

Posted on by Secretary

The new active travel scheme on A4 Western Avenue in Newbury is progressing well. It will link Brummell Road and the Waitrose roundabout and is designed to  improve connections from the main part of Speen estate and Robert Sandilands School with the northern end of the town.

The scheme design was modified in response to feedback received through the public consultation exercise. For most of its length, the north side will have a 3m segregated bi-directional cycle route with a 2m footway to the rear, but there will be short sections of shared use path at either end. A new shared-use path will be created on the south side, which will extend from Waitrose to a point just west of Old Bath Road, at which point cyclists will transition back to the carriageway, protected by a traffic island. Toucan crossings will help cyclists cross the A4 just to the west of the Waitrose roundabout and east of Old Bath Road. An additional uncontrolled crossing will be provided to the west of Brummell Road. The following link shows a PDF of the scheme layout: A4 Western Avenue Active Travel Improvements.

Spokes broadly welcomes the scheme, which will support local residents and school kids making local journeys on foot and by bike and will help to reduce the dominance of the busy A4 corridor, which acts as a significant barrier. However, reservations have been expressed about some elements of the scheme, particularly the shared use path on the south side. Although this footway has very light flows of pedestrians, there are locations where cyclists will have to give way to traffic, rather than having priority as per design guidance and best practice. This includes the crossing of Old Bath Road. As a consequence, experienced cyclists may still choose to remain on-carriageway when travelling westbound, which will no doubt irritate people who are driving behind them.

The scheme is scheduled to be completed by the end of April, with the next phase planned to include a link east of the Waitrose roundabout towards the Winchcombe School.

A4 Cycle Route (Phase 2) Consultation

Posted on by Secretary

West Berkshire Council is continuing to develop its plans for a cycle route along the A4 between Newbury and the district boundary at Calcot, which will form part of the new National Cycle Network Route 422. When complete, this will connect Newbury and Thatcham to Reading, Wokingham, Bracknell and Ascot. The scheme has received funding through the Thames Valley Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership and will be one of the biggest cycling schemes in Berkshire since NCN Route 4 was created.

The scheme is being progressed in phases. The Council consulted on Phase 1 back in October last year and work has already started on the section between Newbury and Thatcham.

Phase 2 will continue the improvements through Thatcham. The proposals include:

  • 1.5m wide cycle lanes marked on the carriageway along the entire length of A4 on both sides
  • more dropped kerbs for better transitions between existing off-road facilities and on-carriageway lanes
  • parking amendments to prevent parked cars blocking the cycle lanes (alternative provision will be created for residents)
  • upgraded pedestrian and cycle crossing facilities
  • changes to traffic islands to remove ‘pinch points’ for cyclists
  • advance stop lines for cyclists at junctions with traffic signals

Further information with detailed drawings can be found on the Council’s website.

Please take the opportunity to review the proposals and have your say. We would be delighted if you could lend your support to this comprehensive set of improvements for local cyclists. You can send your comments or objections to this proposal to the Highways Project Team, no later than 13 May.