The last few weeks has seen work being carried out on donated bikes to help others enjoy the pleasure of cycling, for shopping trips, riding to work or leisure rides into the countryside.
This has included servicing of bikes which have been passed to Ukrainian refugees who have fled the horrific situation in their own country. However it also helps anyone else who wishes to take up or return to their bike.
Whitchurch Bicycle Users (BUG) undertakes a free ‘Dr Bike’ cycle safety check that can assess and highlight any work required before any expensive repairs are commissioned. The ethos driving the service is simply to help people get back on their bikes. See: DR BIKE SAFETY CHECKS
Small safety critical adjustments can be undertaken for a donation to charity, and advice is freely provided for any further work that might be needed along with independent advice on other providers.
Elsie Whip – Eh? That’s what it sounds like. The LCWIP (local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan) is now out for consultation for our area. It heavily affects Whitchurch.
A draft Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) has been developed by Hampshire County Council, Sustrans (a charity making it easier for people to walk and cycle) and Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.
Investment in Cycling and Walking brings benefits Hampshire County Council (HCC) and Basingstoke and Deane Borough (BDBC) want to invest in sustainable transport measures, including walking and cycling infrastructure. Research has shown that such investment repays itself many times over, including increasing the local economy. If there is no approved LCWIP it is much less likely there will be any government funding for any improvements.
The introduction states: “If we are to meet our 2050 Vision, our Climate Change Emergency targets, and our Public Health goals we need walking and cycling to be safe, direct, and attractive for everyone from ages 8 to 80+. We need our networks to be accessible to everyone and cater for the majority of users, whether they are walking with a double buggy, have a health condition or disability that makes our public spaces more difficult to use. We have been challenged in recent years by walking and cycling advocates to do better.“
This is the chance to have a say on local routes, facilities and infrastructure. What is needed in Whitchurch to help you walk or cycle? Traffic levels, speed, pavement widths, surfaces, cycle parking – they can all have an effect, but what is most important? All these can be commented upon and specific locations plotted on an online map.
“Walking and cycling are practical everyday ways of travelling, for even just part of a journey, that can help to make us healthier, happier, greener, and more equal…”
The Mill Springs sports pitch area which is to be transferred from developerDavid Wilson HomestoWhitchurch Town Councilseems to be fraught with problems and delays.
The much needed football pitches have not yet been commissioned to the dismay of players and their teams wishing to use them. Wildflower areas were missed, then planted and then inexplicably mown down. Cracks appeared in the cycle/foot path while the ‘chicane barriers’ continue to prevent access for many who have mobility issues, contravening equalities legislation.
Remedial surface work This week part of the top surface of the cycle path was removed after some test holes were made to see what was causing the cracks. It looked as if planting left under the surface had begun to break through. Around an inch of tarmac has been scraped off, in an area stretching from Micheldever Road to about halfway down the hill.
Let us hope that the remedial work is successful and that it includes removing the source of the issue and not just covering it up only for it to appear again. Will there be a guarantee on this?
Top surface has been scraped off.
No progress on ‘chicane barriers‘ Meanwhile there has been no progress on the two access points where ‘chicane barriers’ remain as hazards and obstructions. It has been brought to the attention of Whitchurch Town Council that the barriers breach the 2010 Equalities Act and do not comply with government DfT requirements (LTN 1/20) for design and construction. There are other more suitable solutions that can be used but ‘chicane barriers’ are invariably unacceptable as they discriminate against many mobility buggies, adaptive wheelchairs and disabled cycles. Such ‘chicane barriers’ are currently being removed throughout the country and have also been the subject of court action resulting in costs being awarded. But in Whitchurch they remain.
There is a very simple solution. If David Wilson Homes remedied the designs before they become the responsibility of Whitchurch Town Council it could save the Whitchurch taxpayers thousands in potential future lawsuits should there be an incident or a discrimination claim. Hampshire County Council has provided a simple low cost solution; however… We shall see if common sense prevails.
Restrictive barriers remain. At least someone added a ‘cone’ – maybe to warn users
The last few weeks has seen work being carried out on donated bikes to help others enjoy the pleasure of cycling, for shopping trips, riding to work or leisure rides into the countryside.
Elsie Whip – Eh? That’s what it sounds like.
