Tag: West Berkshire Council

Space for Cycling

Posted on by Secretary

You may have seen some publicity in the media around the Space for Cycling campaign. This is a joint call to action launched by independent local and regional cycling groups across the UK following a very successful launch by London Cycle Campaign in 2013.

Space for Cycling has a Steering Group formed by the major national cycling organisations and city campaigning groups who have already made a start on their campaigns for elections that are taking place in May 2014.

While West Berkshire Council doesn’t have any elections this year, it is clear that cycling has fallen a long way down the local list of political priorities. The Get Britiain Cycling Report, published last year, recommended a spend of £10 per head on new cycling infrastructure rising to £20 as cycling increases. This is the MINIMUM spend that is required if we are to make cycling mainstream.

If you strip out maintenance dressed up as bridleway improvement schemes, West Berkshire Council is planning to spend just £0.65 per person on cycling facilities this year. This isn’t good enough, so Spokes is encouraging you to go to the Space4Cycling website pledge your support and email your local councillors to ask them to make Space for Cycling. Together we can make a difference!

Help Needed for February Cycle Count

Posted on by Secretary

We are looking for volunteers to help with our next cycle count. This is a really important activity for Spokes, since the payment that we get from the Council is main source of our funding and is one of the reasons that membership is free.

There are 17 sites which need to be counted from 07:30 to 09:30 on 25th, 26th and 27th February:

Site 1: Newbury – Kennet & Avon Towpath (Beneath A339)
Site 2: Newbury – A339 (on Railway Bridge)
Site 3: Newbury – Robin Hood west arm (London Road)
Site 4: Newbury – Kiln Road / Walton Way
Site 5: Newbury – Love Lane (roundabout at Trinity School)
Site 6: Newbury – Andover Road (just north of St Bartholomew’s School)
Site 7: Newbury – Junction of Northcroft Lane & path to Monkey Bridge
Site 8: Newbury – Junction of Valley Road and Fifth Road
Site 9: Newbury – Junction of Battery End with Wash Common Recreation Ground
Site 10: Thatcham – A4 West of Lower Way
Site 11: Thatcham – Thatcham Station
Site 12: Thatcham – Corner of Bath Road & Green Lane
Site 13: Theale – Junction of High Street & Waterside Drive
Site 14: Hungerford – Staggered junction near Town Hall – Church St & Park St
Site 15: Calcot – Junction of Langley Hill & Bath Road
Site 16: Tilehurst – Junction of Dark Lane & Overdown Road
Site 17: Purley – Junction of Knowsley Road & Oxford Road

If you can help with any of these, then please email us (chair@westberkshirespokes.org). You can do more than one count on subsequent days if you would like. Locations will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

We really appreciate the help that we get from our volunteers, who turn out in all weathers. To say thank you, everyone who counts for at least one hour will be entered in a prize draw for £50 of Banjo vouchers.

Cycling Treasure Hunt

Posted on by Secretary

Thatcham_NDSIf you are looking for something to do with your kids during the half-term break, then get on your bikes and get down to the Nature Discovery Centre, which is located off Lower Way in Thatcham. West Berkshire Council is organising a Halloween Treasure Hunt on 31 October between 10am and 2pm.

Collect a map and cycle off to find the pumpkins hidden in various locations around Thatcham. The route makes the most of quiet roads and cycle paths around the town. Make sure that you return to the Discovery Centre by 3pm to collect your reward. For more information about the treasure hunt, please contact Caroline Lane (clane@westberks.gov.uk).

Cyclists No Longer Asked to Dismount

Posted on by Secretary

Cyclists dismount signs have traditionally been used at the end of, or a break in a cycle route. Unlike most signs on the UK’s roads, these are only advisory and most cyclists cheerfully ignore them.

The signs often signify a weakness in the design of a cycle route and Spokes is generally opposed to their use. West Berkshire Council has come round to the same point of view and has now offered to get rid of existing signs.

There is just one problem, there are no records as to where the existing signs are located, so the Council has asked for Spokes’s help in reporting signs so they can be removed. If you spot one, then please let us know, so we can pass this on to the relevant officers. It’s only a small thing, but it will help to make West Berkshire just a little bit better for cyclists.

Consultation on Newbury 2026 – Vision for Newbury Town Centre

Posted on by Secretary

West Berkshire Council is consulting on its draft refresh of its vision for the future of Newbury Town Centre. This makes a number of references to cycling, including:

“Review walking and cycling routes into and within the town centre and making improvements where necessary such as filling in missing links.

1. Seek an appropriate location for a secure and sheltered cycle parking hub (with shower facilities) within Newbury Town Centre

2. Producing downloadable apps for easy cycle routes between the town and existing and new residential area such as Sandleford Park.

3. Securing improvements to the National Cycle Network Route 4 (NCN4) which runs along the canal towpath as a key route for cycling and walking.”

The consultation runs until 25 October 2013. Spokes will be making a formal response on the cycling elements and any other relevant sections. If you have any thoughts, then please get in touch.