| The home of cycling in Stevenage and Hitchin |
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| The home of cycling in Stevenage and Hitchin |
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Some of you may have gone to the exhibition for the Hitchin Railway flyover. I didn't because I didn’t know it was on ! If you here about these events, do let us know.
We have written to NHDC, HCC and councillors on the Joint Highway Partnership reminding them that there are a whole load of proposed cycle routes in the area. We would like to see these built as part of the scheme. At the very least the routes must be protected so that a path can be built in the future. In particular we would like to see step free access restored across the rail lines at Cadwell crossing. This crossing, on the Ickneild Way, is the only possible traffic free link between Hitchin and Letchworth. But it is much more than that; the Ickneild Way links all of the North Herts towns, and connects on to long distance routes stretching unbroken to the coast in Dorset and Norfolk. We would like this route developed for all weather cycling.
Read all about it here
Regards
Alasdair
We received the following reply from Rob Smith, Assistant Director Transport Management at Herts Highways:
"I am aware of this recent exchange between you and my colleague, Roxanne Glaud and it is clear that you disagree with the approach Herts County Council are taking on the current combined maintenance and improvement scheme on Old Park Road and Paynes Park in Hitchin
However, this scheme has been developed following consultation with local representatives and, in light of all the various pressures and demands on this part of the highway network, it has been decided that this is the appropriate design to be implemented. We remain committed to delivering this scheme and will be continuing to do so.
We will monitor its effectiveness following its implementation
There will continue to be opportunities to develop the highway network in the area as various developments take place in and around the town and we will always look to see how cycling can be incorporated in to any schemes but, as is often the case, there will frequently have to be compromises."
Roughly translated this says "We are ignoring your views and going ahead regardless. We have no plans to implement any other cycling improvements unless the opportunity drops into our lap." Given that just such an opportunity has just fallen into HH's lap at Paynes Park and they completely ignored it I think that we can safely conclude that Herts Highways have NO intention of trying to improve conditions for cycling in Hitchin EVER. That is, of course despite the strong mandate to do so both locally (2nd most popular measure in the 1998 Hitchin Transport Plan) and nationally (support rates of 69% to 85% for greater priority for cycling).
So, in spite of all the work put in 10 years ago it is clear that nothing is going to happen unless people make it happen. Now is a very good time to make noise, while the Hitchin Transport Plan is being reviewed. Herts Highways would love to sweep the whole issue of cycling provision under the carpet, we need to make sure that they cannot do so.
Please take a little time to contact your councillors (district and county) and your MP (Peter Lilley), and let them know your views. Remember, if people don't then nothing positive will ever happen.
We have written back to Mr Smith. Our letter can be read by clicking on the picture on the right.
draw up an implementation plan for the cycling network, and to build it. This is what we have said:
Regards
Alasdair DV Massie CEng MIStructE
CTC Right to Ride Representative, North Herts
CTC is Britain's largest cycling organisation with 70,000 members. Formed in 1878 we have actively campaigned for better, safer roads, locally and nationally since our inception. We have a large and active section for North Herts and Stevenage.
Back to topI was recently approached by an Architect who has been commissioned to look at rejuvenating and redeveloping the Churchgate / Market / St Mary's Square area. Interestingly she had come across my name through various cycle planning / campaigning e-groups and wanted to bounce ideas off me from a cyclist's perspective. I can't say too much, since I was approached in confidence, and at present there is actually very little to tell. My own comments were as below:
"Thanks for sending me the info on Northampton Market. This looks very much as I believe Hitchin's market should be - in the heart of the town, focused on the Market square with tentacles extending down the surrounding streets (High Street, Sun Street, around the church and into Bancroft).
An alternative to the trailer mounted stands might be to have a single contractor put up modular stands in the morning and strike them again at the end of the day. That would reduce the numbers of vehicles needed, although stall holders would of course still need vehicle access to set up their wares.
With regard to the existing market site and car park, a mixed use development seems ideal. It would need to be permeable to pedestrians and cyclists and would want to have buildings fronting onto all of the surrounding streets to give them a much more active, inhabited feel. Portmill Lane is currently just a car park access with nothing but back yards off it, and Queens Road is overly wide and hostile.
All the main routes in Hitchin are rather hostile for pedestrians and cyclists - particularly the one way gyratories at Paynes Park and Hollow Lane. They need a serious makeover, losing road space and guard rails.
I am attaching details of the proposed Hitchin cycle network (adopted 1999), as yet virtually no progress has been made on this."
�Alasdair Massie
CTC RtR North Herts
Dear all,
The Hitchin Transport Plan workshop is fast approaching so we have sent a briefing note to Hitchin Councillors. The introduction is here, the briefing itself (533 kB) can be found in the filespace for the Cycle Hitchin and Hitchin Transport Plan groups. For those who cannot access these, a copy will be on the campaign page of our website shortly.
Please take a little time to contact your MP (Peter Lilley ? unfortunately he will not correspond with me as I am not his constituent) and councillors to let them know what you would like to come out of this consultation.
If you are not sure how to contact your councillor, go to http://www.hertsdirect.org/actweb/postcode/postcode.cfm
Regards< br/>
Alasdair DV Massie CEng MIStructE
CTC Right to Ride Representative, North Herts
A new cycle campaigning group has been formed in Hitchin, looking to pick up the threads left by initiatives like Hitchin Vision Transport Group. Hitchin has the highest levels of cycling in North Herts, it has a Transport Plan and it has a Cycle Route Network Masterplan, but progress towards making improvements on the ground has been painfully slow.
The new Campaign group is looking to get those initiatives moving, and at the same time look at ways of raising the profile of cycling, making it more popular and more accessible.
If you live or work in or around Hitchin then why not get involved. Whether you have something to say, ideas to share, skills you can offer, concerns to air, or if you just want to listen, come along to one of our meetings or join the online discussion group.
Visit the Campaign group website at www.cyclehitchin.org.uk Join the online discussion group by going to http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/Cycle_Hitchin/
For more details contact Dave Borner or Alasdair Massie
Back to topUpdate On Thursday (3rd July) morning we met with representatives of the County Council (HCC) and the rail operator, First Capital Connect (FCC) at Hitchin station. Dave Holladay, CTC�s public transport advisor, made the trip all the way down from Glasgow to be there. Susan Dye, a member of Hitchin Cycling group was also present, representing the Residents Association.
In most respects it was a very positive meeting. Larry Heyman from FCC was very keen to come to a solution that would ensure that all users felt happy. FCC have been working hard on improving cycle access and parking on the Thameslink line at Bedford and St Albans, and have seen that investment rewarded by increases in passenger numbers.
Alissa Ede, from HCC�s passenger transport unit (PTU) also came across as refreshingly open minded. Alissa is Dutch, and is new to the post so hopefully will bring a rather more people focused approach to her department. PTU are the �client� on this project so Alissa is a key player.
The villain of the piece was, rather predictably, the representative from Herts Highways. Negative, obstructive, unhelpful, closed minded, unimaginative � Neil Reardon epitomized everything that we have grown to know and �love� in our Highway Engineers. He had clearly only come to justify his very unsatisfactory design and was not willing to contemplate improvements.
Everybody is keen to resolve this quickly as there is �100,000 of DfT grant on the table that will be lost if not spent soon. That is good and bad. Good in that it will encourage the designers to make concessions, bad in that they are unlikely to do anything radical.
Write to your MP (feedback@peterlilley.co.uk) and councilors, asking them to intervene and ensure that the:
The following is an email and its associated paper that was sent out after the meeting discussed above:
From: Alasdair Massie
Sent: 04 July 2008 10:42
To: 'Alissa Ede'
Cc: 'Dave Holladay'; Bob.Crossfield@firstgroup.com; David Burt;
Larry.Heyman@firstgroup.com; Neil Reardon; Simon.Young@north-herts.gov.uk
Subject: Hitchin Station Forecourt Redevelopment - Technical issues, principles and
guidelines
cid:641481209@04072008-36C9Cyclists Touring Club
Right to Ride Network
�
www.ctc.org.uk� ����������� www.northhertsctc.org.uk
Dear�Alissa,
Notes attached regarding some of the "technical" aspects that were discussed at yesterday's
meeting.
It should not be necessary to "debate" the most appropriate forms of cycle infrastructure, the
basic widths and geometry of cycle paths and lanes, or the "safety" of bus lanes and
contraflow cycling. All of these are issues that have been researched and the findings
published by the Department for Transport in the form of national guidelines contained in the
Design Manual for Roads and Bridges. These are not issues that the designers should make
up for themselves, particularly as their experience of cycling appears to be very limited.
regards
Alasdair DV Massie
CTC Right to Ride Representative, North Herts
CTC is Britain?s largest cycling organisation with 70,000 members. Formed in 1878
we have actively campaigned for better, safer roads, locally and nationally since our
inception.
We have a large and active section for Stevenage and North Herts.
Ten years ago, Railtrack (as they were then) dug up the tatty forecourt outside Hitchin Station and re-laid it. CTC were involved in the �consultation� process but it was a token gesture � our views were ignored and the result is unusable. A recent survey by Transport 2000 named and shamed Hitchin as one of the country�s worst stations to reach by bike. Now we are planning to do it all again. But has anybody learned by the past mistakes ? Sadly not.
It is unclear who is driving the new proposals. We were passed a copy of the plans in April by NHDC and gave detailed comments on them. We even submitted plans of our own showing a much more pedestrian and cyclist friendly environment.
Plans exhibited at the station this week reflect none of those comments. We have, it seems, been ignored once again. The current proposals are little different to the wholly unsatisfactory proposals that we battled against a decade ago. Regrettably, this is a proposal that is aimed at encouraging people to drive to the station, and as is so often the case, cyclists will be marginalised even further in order to make space. As if Hitchin didn�t already have enough traffic on its roads.
What can you do ?
Write to you Councillor (District and County). Bang on the table and demand to know why public money is being squandered on another pointless and counter-productive re-shuffle. Improving conditions for cycling was the second most popular measure in the 1998 Hitchin Transport Plan, it is about time something constructive was done about it.
We have written to Peter Lilley MP and to Hitchin;s district and county councillors, asking them to assist us. Read the letter here.
We attended a workshop at NHDC Council offices, focused on Road Safety, Car Parking, Streetscapes, Travel Planning and the Environmental impact from transport. It was a busy and productive day, and we had a lot to say on all of those subjects. There is no room to summarise it here, but you can read it all here. Get yourself comfy first, there are 24 pages !
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