Agenda item

Sarah Rowell, Principal Transport Officer will give an update on the consultation on walking and cycling infrastructure plans.

Sarah Rowell, Principal Transport Officer gave an update on walking and cycling infrastructure plans.  The consultation exercise was being held to understand views on proposals to enhance the walking and cycling infrastructure in Northumberland.  It had opened on 7 March 2022 and was due to close on 15 April 2022.  (A copy of the power point presentation were enclosed with the signed minutes and would be circulated electronically after the meeting):

The presentation highlighted:

·        The policy background.

·        Benefits of residents choosing to and walk and cycle more often (health and wellbeing, congestion, air quality, economic).

·        Evidence led approach to identify infrastructure requirements and place the authority in a strong position if funding opportunities became available.

·        5 LCWIP Principles:

1 - Our walking and cycling vision

2 - Evidence based approach to walking and cycling network planning

3 - Geographical extent of LCWIPS

4 - Proposed improvements

5 - Priority corridors

·        Progress to date (identification of 3 cycling and 2 walking corridors in each of the 12 towns).

·        Strive to adhere to national design guidelines for proposed improvements (Department of Transport Cycle Infrastructure Design) to ensure networks and routes were coherent, direct, safe, comfortable and attractive.

·        Consultation objectives (raise awareness, gather baseline data, introduction of principles used to develop the LCWIPS, seeks views of on the proposed walking and cycling networks and priority corridors).

The consultation was on the Council’s website and Citizen Space Portal; comments, questions and queries could also be sent to: gearchange@northumberland.gov.uk.

Members made the following comments:

·        They supported the LCWIP process, particularly given the many benefits including tourism and that the Council needed to be ambitious and consider the position of gateways given the nature of the county.

·        Connectivity was needed between towns.

·        Cyclists had different levels of ability and confidence on different routes.  Routes needed to be safe to nurture more users.

·        Whilst £220,000 funding had been set aside by the Council, additional funding would be needed to progress schemes.

·        It was recommended that Members obtain a copy of Geared Up.

The following information was provided in response to questions:

·        The LCWIPS were focused on 12 main towns which included Hexham as they provided the best opportunity to increase people walking and cycling and reduce car usage.  However, the data had shown that the settlements of Acomb and Corbridge had been identified as being important to Hexham, so the Hexham cycling corridor extended towards Acomb and Corbridge.  The consultation sought views of what the extent of the LCWIP should be.

·        The consultation was about the high-level direction of travel, the next stage would require approval of a strategy prior to seeking external funding to deliver schemes and draw in external funding.

·        The proposed networks and priority corridors were included within the consultation but would be forwarded to members separately.  Alignment of routes would not be considered until later in the process as part of design work.  There would be further consultation at that stage.

·        Facilities were needed to enable residents to use cycles as part of a longer journey as currently there was a limit of 2 cycles on some public transport.  Key stakeholders, including bus and rail providers had been consulted directly; it was agreed that facilities needed to be improved to include shower facilities at places of employment.  The latter was a separate behavioural change piece of work.

·        Officers had been liaising with counterparts in neighbouring authorities however to ensure that the various networks connected at borders.  It was acknowledged that they could have different priorities, but it was important to maintain communication.

·        300 responses had been received to the consultation in the first 8 days since it had been launched but it would continue to be promoted during the consultation period.

·        Strategic Transport and Technical Services were both involved in the development of LCWIPS and traffic calming measures.  This included analysis of functions and requests.

·        NCC supported the Cycle to Work scheme and consideration would be given to additional promotion of the scheme as employees returned to their normal workplaces following the pandemic.

·        This was a first stage in a process to enable schemes to be progressed should funding be made available.  Separate consultation would be held regarding towns and communities as schemes were developed.

·        The Chair thanked the Principal Transport Officer and looked forward to the next steps and development of schemes.

RESOLVED that the presentation be received and that the comments be noted.