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Bath & North East Somerset Council
 
MEETING: Planning, Transport and Environment AGENDA

ITEM NUMBER

    
MEETING DATE: 25 March 1999      
   
REPORT AUTHOR: H N Boyd, Temporary Pedestrian and Cycling Officer
RESPONSIBLE OFFICER: E Delaine, Head of Engineering Services
TITLE:

National Cycle Network route from East Harptree to Whitchurch, along with Chew Valley Trail
WARD: Chew Valley West, Chew Valley South, Chew Valley North and Clutton, Cameley
BACKGROUND PAPERS:

AN OPEN PUBLIC ITEM

1. SUMMARY

1.1 This paper outlines the work needed to assess the feasibility of, and construct, a high quality cycle and pedestrian route from north to south through the western part of the Council area. As a key section of National Cycle Route 3, part of the National Cycle Network (NCN), it would attract visitor spend, as well as serving the needs of residents for transport and leisure. It should also allow pupils from nearby communities at Chew Valley School to travel to and from school in greater safety on foot or by bicycle.

1.2 An important additional project would be a new route on the east side of the Chew Valley Lake. It would include a particularly interesting and attractive section along the eastern shore of Chew Valley Lake. This would combine with the National Route to create a complete circular ‘leisure trail’ for walkers and cyclists around the lake.

2. RECOMMENDATION

2.1 That support in principle is given to undertaking a feasibility study and design of costed options for National Route 3 from East Harptree to Whitchurch, presentation of the proposals to local Parish Councils and other appropriate organisations for their views, and assembly of a funding package to cover the implementation in time for the celebration of the Millennium in mid-June 2000.

2.2 That support in principle is given to undertaking a feasibility study in partnership with the Chew Valley Recreational Trail Association (CVRTA) for a cycle and pedestrian route East of Chew Valley Lake which would complete a ‘round-the-lake’ leisure trail, identifying costed options for the route, presentation of the proposals to local Parish Councils and other appropriate organisations for their views, and assembly of a funding package.

3. RESOURCE AND CORPORATE POLICY IMPLICATIONS (Where necessary, the views of the Council's Statutory Officers are reflected in the comments below)

3.1 Financial: the National Cycle Route would be eligible for support from Sustrans under their Millennium Fund scheme. This allows for up to 50% of design costs and 23% of construction costs to be provided by Sustrans for parts of the National Cycle Network which are scheduled to be completed by June 2000. We are advised by Sustrans that the ‘round-the-lake’ extension - which they warmly support - would almost certainly be eligible for a grant from Sport England, the former Sports Council.

3.2 Staffing: no implications

3.3 Equalities: better and safer facilities for cycling and walking will help people without access to motor transport, particularly the elderly and young people. People with limited mobility, e.g. wheelchair users, are usually very comfortable on cycle routes designed to Sustrans standards, and there would be proper consideration for alternative arrangements in the unlikely event that any access controls were felt necessary.

3.4 Economic: the creation of a high-quality route, along with the publicity generated by Sustrans’s ‘Ride the Net’ in June 2000, should attract considerable visitor spend. It is estimated that over 15,000 cyclists a year use some parts of the West Country Way (which this route will help to complete). In other parts of the country being on or near a cycle route has produced significant extra business - cyclists tend to spend more than car-borne trippers within the local economy. The ‘round-the-lake’ route too should generate significant leisure revenue, particularly from the Bristol area.

3.5 Environment: cycling and walking are healthy, pollution-free, means of travel and recreation. While some extra car traffic on the A368 may be generated by day visitors, this should be offset by the substitution of other car trips by walking and cycling, especially by school pupils and people using the ‘round-the-lake’ trail. The trail will largely use existing roads and footpaths. Chew Valley Lake is a site of Special Scientific Interest and also a Special Protection Area for birdlife. Clearly this raises environmental issues which will be addressed within any feasibility studies undertaken.

3.6 Council Wide Impacts: important element in the implementation of the Council’s Cycling Strategy.

4. BACKGROUND AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK

4.1 The cycle route engineering charity Sustrans obtained £43.5 million Millennium Commission grant in 1996 to advance the construction of a National Cycling Network. Sustrans have mapped a nation-wide framework of long distance routes, and are contributing their design skills, advice and money to local authorities, who need to find matching funds to complete the project.

4.2 Appropriately for the headquarters of Sustrans, the Avon region is an important ‘junction’ in the national network. B&NES lies on National Route 4, London to Fishguard. Route 4 is also part of a pan-European route from East Europe to Galway, although not many tourists are expected to make it all the way! We are also the terminus of Route 3 (the ‘West Country Way’ from Padstow (Cornwall), which joins Route 4 in Bath (or Bristol).

4.3 Although these are described as ‘Cycle Routes’, they are also intended for, and heavily used by pedestrians and sometime horse riders. Although some conflicts occur, if the routes meet Sustrans’s recommended standards for width and visibility, most cyclists and pedestrians use them in a spirit of give and take.

5. SCOPE OF THE PROPOSED WORK PROGRAMME

5.1 The route can be considered in three different sections:

5.2 East Harptree to Chew Stoke. This part of the project would aim to establish a quality cycle route to form part of the National Cycle Network Route 3 (Padstow to Bristol). The total distance of this section is 10.8 km. It will need to conform to the high standards specified by Sustrans for its national routes. These call for a level of traffic safety such that a responsible 12-year old can cycle unaccompanied, and sufficient route width so that cyclists and pedestrians can co-exist comfortably.

5.3 The table below describes the key features of this route. Sustrans have been in contact with Bristol Water regarding incorporating the route into the proposed redevelopment of Woodford Lodge as a visitor centre and restaurant.

5.4 Chew Stoke to Whitchurch (National Cycle Network Route 3). This important 10.3 km stretch of the revised Route 3 would help South Bristol cyclists to reach the Chew Valley and the villages south of Whitchurch. It would also give long-distance visitors easier access to public transport in Bristol. The existing ‘interim route’ on the Avon Cycleway takes in more of Bath and North East Somerset, but Saltford is the only community likely to have benefited from any passing visitor spend.

5.5 The table below describes the key features of this section of the project. Work has already begun on the feasibility and design of the A37 to Bristol boundary section, involving traffic management (in Sleep Lane and Staunton Lane, Whitchurch) and path construction, as part of the current work programme.

5.6 Recreational trail. This section, comprising a total of 11.6 km of new cycle route, completes a circuit of the lake to create a ‘recreational trail’. The planned circular route could be begun at any of the car parks and picnic areas around the lake, and the bird life and scenery will make a memorable experience for day visitors from a wide area. Equally importantly, it can be the destination for leisure cycling trips from home, starting in south Bristol, Keynsham and Bath, and using either the Avon Cycleway or the cycle route now being developed by Bristol City Council and Sustrans as a more direct northern end for Sustrans Route 3.

5.7 The East Harptree to South Widcombe and the Bishop Sutton to Hollow Brook sections already form part of an ‘Interim Route’ for National Cycle Network Route 3. The work to be done to provide the appropriate facilities for the leisure trail is described in the table below.

6. CONSULTATION

6.1 The broad features of the project have been developed by the Sustrans local routes officer in conjunction with CVRTA and SUSTRANS in the Chew Valley area. A public meeting in February aroused a great deal of interest, and all the Parish Councils affected have, we understand expressed their support in principle, subject to consultation on more detailed proposals.

6.2 Local representatives of pedestrian and cycling organisations were consulted on these proposals at their regular liaison meeting with the Council on 8th March. They supported the proposals.

6.3 This report was sent to the Trades Unions for comment on 8th March. Any comments received will be reported to the meeting.

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