Agenda item

Following the meeting of the Committee on 21 February 2012 where Members deferred the item for further consultation with officers.

The report before the Committee sought recommendation to the Cabinet Member for Community Empowerment that the highway improvement works between Pages Wood (Harold Wood) and             Rainham Village be approved for implementation.

            The scheme was supported with £880,000 of Big Lottery grant funding provided through Sustrans and additional Council capital funding, grants via the Transport for London Local Implementation Plan and Veolia Havering Riverside Trust.

            The scheme’s overarching aim was to improve local travel in 79 communities around the UK by creating new walking and cycling networks for everyday journeys.

            By means of bridges, tunnels and other crossings, barriers such as busy roads, rivers and railways can be overcome to make travelling on foot or bike easier and more direct. With each new crossing linking to a local network of walking and cycling routes, there would be direct access to local schools, shops and workplaces, as well as green spaces.

            In terms of design, the route was being designed for pedestrians, both the experienced and inexperienced cyclist, and equestrian riders where possible.

            Sustrans and the Council were promoting a scheme for the Ingrebourne Valley which would build on, connect to and improve existing routes, some of which had been in place for some time.

            The 13 mile route, called the “Ingrebourne Way” would form the new National Cycle Route No.136, starting in Noak Hill and ending at Rainham Marshes, running through Harold Hill, Harold Wood, Harold Park, Cranham, Upminster, Hornchurch, Elm Park and South Hornchurch.

            The first phase of the scheme between Noak Hill and Pages Wood had been completed.

            The current focus of activity was now Phases 2 & 3 which would complete the scheme between Pages Wood and Rainham Marshes by March 2013.

            As well as any statutory consultation processes, the project was overseen by the Connect 2 Steering Group which sought to engage various stakeholders in the development of the route. The group included Council Staff, Sustrans, local walking and cycling groups, Forestry Commission, Environment Agency, biodiversity groups and others as required.

            The route and design of the various features had also been reviewed by Sustrans both from a network planning and engineering point of view and fully acceptable to the organisation.

In accordance with the public participation arrangements the Committee was addressed by an objector who expressed his views and concern for parts of the scheme.

During the debate members raised general concerns over the design of the scheme including the safety of having mixed use, cycle and pedestrian, paths through Upminster Park. Members also queried the technical specification of the proposed advisory cycle lanes and raised concerns about the proposed 3 metres width of the lanes.  

In reply to Member comments Officers informed the Committee that the proposed 3 metres shared use-cycle track was a safe proposal and in line with other sections of Phase 1 which had been in operation for some time.

The Committee was informed that the crossing on Station Road had been in mixed use operation by pedestrians and cyclists for around 18 months without any reported incidents between the two user groups.

The Committee was also informed that the loss of the advisory cycle lanes would be compensated by the provision of on-road logos and appropriate signage at detailed design stage.

The Committee was informed that it was safety critical, due to increased levels of congestion, to widen certain short sections of the route.

A Member raised concerns over the cycle route going through Upminster Park and suggested that it could be rerouted along St Mary’s Lane and Bridge Avenue. Officers commented that as a leisure route, St Mary’s Lane was not considered to be appropriate.

The Committee was also informed that any change resulting in the removal of the route from Upminster Park would not be approved by Sustrans and would likely affect funding.

A MOTION was moved to change the route of the cycle route so that it would be diverted out of Upminster Park.

The MOTION was seconded. 

At the vote, the motion was rejected 6 votes to 3.

A MOTION was moved to recommend the scheme for implementation subject to the following amendments:  

1.      the advisory cycle lanes along Hall Lane and shown on drawings 10,11,12,13,14 and 15 be removed and replaced by  logos and signage;

2.      the design of the route across the Hall Lane / A127 Bridge be delegated to the Head of StreetCare in consultation with the Committee Chairman. 

The MOTION was seconded.

The Committee RESOLVED to recommend the scheme to the Cabinet Member for Community Empowerment as amended.