Planning Applications – Crab Hill and Tesco

What are the Swale routes? Are these not possible cycle routes? The paths on the plans look to be about 2M wide. I will have a better look at the weekend as I want to write to local our councillors/MP (or better, support existing campaigns) for better transport infrastructure including cycling and busses and a re-opened Wantage train station. The new link road is important.

Also see http://www.wantageandgrove.org. I cannot remember if this link has been posted before.

Some suggestions towards a HarBUG response:

Dotcom centre:

The description of local cycle routes is inadequate. They describe route 544 as 44 (understandable, but should be corrected) and as going along the Ridgeway (rather off-putting for a regular commute). They don’t mention the possibility of accessing Milton Interchange through Milton Heights, which avoids the need to use the A4130 and delivers you direct to the cycle path.

These errors and omissions are worth highlighting before Tesco start promoting cycling to dotcom centre staff in line with their travel plan.

I think we should also recommend that Tesco provide section 106 contribution to upgrading the surface of the bridleway from the Pack Horse to Rowstock, and from Rowstock south to route 544. This would link the dotcom centre and neighbouring business directly to route 544, and benefit the whole local cycle network by linking 544 to Milton Park via Milton Heights.

Crab Hill:
I would like to see us comment on roundabout design for on road cyclists. At the A417 in particular, the design looks fast, with no cycle lanes crossing this junction. I believe there are guidelines somewhere about not making roads worse for cyclists and I think this roundabout does make travelling along the A417 worse for cyclists. In general, the development’s junctions should seek to improve, or at least not worsen, safety for cyclists. In general tighter roundabout geometry (less lanes and wide splays) is better for cyclists.

This is a massive development which will owe significant contributions to local infrastructure via section 106 money. This site is a few hundred metres at most from the National Cycle Network route 544, linking it directly to one of the main local employment sites, and yet these plans have NO proposal to link to it. That’s frankly rubbish. They absolutely must be pressed to build a link to it. The obvious place would seem to be a safe access across to the West Lockinge turn at the proposed roundabout with the A417 coupled with provision along the A417 from Wantage (this is partially there in the plans). The West Lockinge road becomes part of route 544 shortly after the A417 junction.

I note that around the link road, and in some other places in the plan, there is proposed shared footpath cycleway 3.5 m wide. This could be greatly improved for cyclists and pedestrians by widening to 4m and properly physically separating the footway and cycle path, eg with a kerb, as is often done in countries with more comprehensive cycle provision. It allows cyclists to safely use paths at speeds closer to road speeds which is much more attractive for commuting.

All the best,
Sarah

PS. I think swales are wide, shallow grassy ditches that allow surface water to soak away. They do however seem to run alongside the cycle / footpath routes in these plans.