Agenda item

To consider a report providing information on opportunities for cycling and pedestrians in the county. 

Presenters:

Cllr Clive Harriss, Cabinet Member Sports and Leisure

Cllr Nick Naylor, Cabinet Member for Transport

Joan Hancox, Service Director – Strategic Transport & Infrastructure

Jo Morphet, Growth and Development Strategy Manager

Suzanne Winkels, Head of Transport Strategy

Report:  Opportunities for Cyclists and Pedestrians in Buckinghamshire

Appendix A: Information from Susan Claris, Transport Planner at Arup and Vice President of Living Streets

As this item had cross-cutting themes, the Chairman welcomed the Chairman, Cllr D Carroll, and Vice-Chairman, Cllr M Winn, of the Growth, Housing and Infrastructure Select Committee to the meeting. Cllr C Harriss, Cabinet Member for Sports and Leisure, introduced the report to the Committee. Active travel referred to using sustainable modes of travel such as walking and cycling, and also included scooting and running. If these active methods were to become a first choice for every day trips, they needed to be safe, attractive and easy to use. One of the benefits of active travel was that it improved the physical and mental health of users, and addressed physical inactivity which was a growing health problem in the UK. Active travel would also improve air quality in Buckinghamshire.

Recent successes were outlined which included the delivery of new walking and cycle routes (Waddesdon Greenway, A4 Taplow Cycleway and A413 Buckingham-Winslow Cycleway). Temporary ‘pop-up’ trial schemes had also taken place as part of the Emergency Active Travel Fund, and, in partnership with Chiltern Railways, high quality cycle parking had been installed at Aylesbury, High Wycombe and Princes Risborough railway stations. The Cabinet Member highlighted in the report the opportunities and challenges for Active Travel in Buckinghamshire. The Council would be developing a Council wide Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan to identify and assess strategic and aspirational walking and cycling schemes through local engagement. New standards would need to be adopted following the Department for Transport’s “Gear Change: A Bold Vision for Cycling and Walking”

and supporting Local Transport Note 1/20.

In responses to questions the following points were noted:

·         The proposed cycleway between Pine Trees and the Handy Cross Hub was being reconsidered and had the potential to extend to Hughenden Valley.

·         Proposals for on road active travel provision would need to be appropriate whilst off road provisions needed to be joint up.

·         Shift workers had been regular users of the new escooter scheme. The escooters had their speeds restricted and would become deactivated in pedestrianized areas.

·         Short term schemes and pilots had received feedback from residents and members following their implementation.

·         54 schools were signed up to active travel plans and the Council encouraged the school travel planning Walk Once a Week (WOW) scheme. Officers would investigate this further and encourage school participation further.

Action: Ms S Winkels

·         The Greenway connecting Wendover and Great Missenden was scheduled to open this year. Funding had been applied for to extend this route past Great Missenden and its feasibility was being investigated.

·         Transport planning initially tried to reduce the need for travel. The next step was then to make active travel a first choice such as through the walking to school plan. There were currently more opportunities for increased walking in Buckinghamshire rather than cycling. 

·         As part of the Aylesbury Garden Town project, a delegation from the Netherlands visited Aylesbury in 2018 to review overall cycling provision and suggest improvements for linking schemes together. Connecting of schemes was important to reduce the reliance on cars. Community Boards also had a role to play in highlighting local disconnects.

·         There was an aspiration to link Dinton, Cuddington and Ford together via cycleways and footpaths that required cooperation from land owners.

·         Any members with specific concerns or proposals were encouraged to raise these separately with the Cabinet Member.

The Chairman thanked the Cabinet Member and officers for the report and their attendance.