When they granted planning permission for the racecourse development, West Berkshire Council managed to secure developer contributions to help improve cycle links between the site and Newbury town centre. Enough people have now moved into the new flats to trigger payment of these contributions.

SPOKES has lobbied for the money to be spent on upgrading the section of towpath between Hambridge Road and Victoria Park. This section has deteriorated significantly in recent years and is now in an unacceptable condition. In some places the path has lost its top surface, exposing larger stones beneath. This makes it is uncomfortable to ride along on any bike without suspension. Other sections are plagued with puddles, making it unpleasant for pedestrians and cyclists alike.

We are delighted that the Council has listened to us and has allocated the funds to the Canal and River Trust to carry out the works, which will involve providing a new 1.8m wide surface over a 1,500m stretch of the towpath.

The River Kennet is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and the Trust quite rightly wants to achieve the best balance between protecting the river and its wildlife, and creating a path that will deliver the greatest benefit for the local community.

They are currently consulting on three options for the path construction:

• Option 1 – Tarmac path construction with a tar and chip surface (surface dressing) along the full length of the resurfaced section of towpath.
• Option 2 – Rolled gravel surface along the full length of the resurfaced section of towpath.
• Option 3 – Tarmac path with surface dressing along the north side between Victoria Park and the footbridge to the rear of Tesco, and a rolled gravel path along the south side from the Tesco footbridge to Hambridge Road.

The tarmac path has the highest quality construction, with a true all-weather surface. It is also the most durable, typically lasting 25-30 years before major repairs / resurfacing is required. Although construction costs are slightly higher, on-going maintenance costs are significantly lower, resulting in a lower whole-life cost. However, it may be viewed as being more suitable for urban areas.

The rolled gravel surface gives a softer, more natural appearance that is more in keeping with a rural setting. However, it is softer and more liable to wear and therefore has a much shorter lifespan. It typically needs major repairs / resurfacing after 12 years. It is particularly prone to incursion from grass growing in from the sides, particularly on paths without timber edging. While it is usable in all weathers, it can be a bit muddy after long periods of rain.

SPOKES favours Option 1, since the whole section of route is well-used by both walkers and cyclist and the level of use will only increase as the racecourse development is built out. The existing rolled gravel path suffers from significant erosion where it meets bridge decks / ramps leading to hazardous level differences and requiring regular repair.

CRT suggests that cycle speeds are higher with a tarmac path construction, but in reality any difference in speeds is likely to be negligible and we do not feel that this is an issue.

Regardless of the type of construction, we will push for the path to be constructed with a slightly raised profile so it drains to the verges on either side rather than collecting water. We would also like to see the width increased to 2m or more where space allows.

If surface dressing is used on the tarmac path, then care needs to be taken to properly sweep the path afterwards to remove any loose chippings. We will ensure that the Council undertakes the appropriate inspections once construction is complete.

To find out more about the proposals, watch the video that the Canal and River Trust has produced and complete their on-line survey. The closing date for responses is 20 January 2019.