Agenda item

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Transformation and Partnerships that provided members with a progress update on the Strategic Walking and Cycling Delivery Plan (for copy of report, see file of minutes).

 

The Chair reminded Members that the Committee responded to the Strategy last year and highlighted some issues which were collated into a formal response that was fed into the consultation.

 

The Sustainable Travel Officer was in attendance to present the report and deliver a presentation that highlighted the following points:

 

·       Vision and Aims – To make cycling and walking part of Durham’s culture and to make them safe, affordable, enjoyable, everyday modes of transport for everyone.

·       Key Ambitions

o   Durham is widely recognised as a cycling and walking friendly County.

o   Durham has high quality cycling and walking networks that are safe, accessible, well maintained, integrated, signed, recorded and promoted.

o   More people, especially women, children and older people are cycling and walking for everyday journeys.

o   The quality of people’s lives, their fitness, health and wellbeing are improved.

·       Building Blocks to create a cycling and walking County.

·       Progress so Far

·       DCC Staff Scheme

·       Next Steps

 

The Sustainable Travel Officer advised that all demographic groups had been involved in the consultation and emphasised the links to climate change and the benefits for people to walk or cycle.

 

The delivery plan is set out under 3 Building Blocks. In Block 1, a huge piece of work had been done on the local cycling and walking infrastructure plans (LCWIPs) and this had recently gone out to tender. Members were informed that the initial LCWIP areas are Chester le Street, Durham and Newton Aycliffe.

 

Work had been done to establish evidence of use for the cycleways using automatic counters and a route user interceptor survey was recently carried out on NCN1 that asked users questions relating to the route. The results from the survey enable better understanding and a better picture to be built when planning improvements and seeking funding opportunities. In relation to DCC buildings and facilities members were advised that secure cycle storage was planned at both Spennymoor and Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centres.

 

Members were advised about the Great North Cycle Way that will run from Darlington to Northumberland covering almost 70 miles. The route will run from Blyth largely following the route of the A167 to Darlington. DCC was committed to building the cycle way with other local authorities.

 

Network Rail had carried out works with funding from DCC at Thickley Bridge to link to the Locomotion Way multi user route that links Shildon, Bishop Auckland and Newton Aycliffe.

 

Block 2 focuses on enforcement and members learned of work being done with Durham Police on the close pass campaign. Work was also ongoing in relation to signage.

 

Block 3 was about engaging, educating and promoting and information was given about the Love Reading, Love Cycling initiative that encourages greener modes of transport and active travel with reading. Belmont library had benefitted from the scheme with new cycle parking installed as well as the provision of the Bike Easy books and special bike seat covers. This would be rolled out to three other libraries in the County at Newton Hall, Shildon and Chester le Street this year. There was also the potential to work with Town and Parish Councils and had begun in Spennymoor and Shildon.

 

Information was given on positive work on how to behave on shared use paths and of DCC schemes for staff that include support to buy a bike and confidence training. A Sustainable Travel map has been completed for Crook and one will be completed for each strategic site. Members were advised that the new pool bike scheme would be available from August 2019.

 

Councillor Brown referred to the Great North Cycleway from Merryoaks to the Cock of the North which was wonderful but commented that the route from Merryoaks to Crossgate Moor was a shared use narrow pavement and sought clarification if there were any plans to improve this route.

 

The Sustainable Travel Officer responded that the works were phased as funding allowed. They were improving routes as well as creating new ones. The Strategic Travel Manager advised that Great North Cycleway was a commuting route and they needed to look at the design of the area and parts of the larger scheme. The section in question had not been addressed.

 

Councillor Brown asked where copies of the leaflets on cycle routes could be obtained.

 

The Sustainable Travel Officer advised Members that pdf copies were available on the council’s website, but copies would shortly be available at Sports Centres and libraries. The Chair suggested that copies of the booklet should be made available in the members resource library.

 

Councillor Milburn asked if existing cycleways were on a maintenance plan.

 

The Sustainable Travel Officer responded that most railway paths are owned by Durham County Council but in some areas particularly in the East there were some complexities with ownership which made them difficult to manage and maintain. Durham County Council was working with partners to bid for funding so that the necessary improvements can be made.

 

The Strategic Traffic Manager advised that some areas of land were not in a good state and required investment. They were aware of the location of these areas of land and there was a list of cycleways that required investment and there were constant issues with maintenance.

 

The Chair referred to littering of the cycleways and asked if this had been taken into consideration when they had looked at the strategy.

 

Members were advised that littering was a maintenance issue and would be passed on to the relevant department. If Members had any particular areas of concern, he would pass this on to the relevant department.

 

The Chair inquired about ownership and how this impacted on maintenance and whether this was carried out as planned maintenance or was reactive. The Strategic Travel Manager that it was a mix of both that was dependent on resources.

 

Councillor Howell indicated that as a Councillor for Darlington Borough Council he had obtained a copy of the plans to build the Great North Cycleway and was interested how the two authorities would connect together.

 

The Sustainable Travel Officer responded that Darlington’s build was as far as the A1 roundabout in Newton Aycliffe and works to construct the Great North Cycle Way in County Durham would connect up, though that stretch of the route has not been designed as yet.

 

Councillor Howell asked how they promoted the use of cycling and had they had conversations with Darlington Borough Council or other local authorities about their cycle ways.

 

The Sustainable Travel Officer responded that they had not worked with Darlington Borough Council recently but would when it was relevant. They work with other local authorities and were currently working with Sunderland City Council who had obtained funding through North East Combined Authority (NECA) for a cycleway from Hetton-le-Hole to Murton.

 

Councillor Coult asked if cycling was promoted to every school in County Durham as it was important to get the message out about the benefits of cycling at a young age and commented that it was great to see cyclists respecting the road although educating cyclists as well as motorists about road use and gave an example of some cyclists riding three abreast.

 

The Sustainable Travel Officer responded that they did not work directly with schools as this was carried out by the road safety team who provided Bikability training.

 

Councillor Jopling commented that this was a win-win for the council as there were numerous benefits including health benefits and benefits to the local economy and when she was in the hospitality trade a third of her business was from cyclists. It was good to teach and encourage school children about cycling as they loved riding bikes and in her area a training scheme had been put into place at Glenholme Park, and suggested that these schemes were good for Members to invest their financial assistance.

 

Councillor Dunn referred to the consultation, in particular asking if as part of the survey a question was asked in relation to connectivity of cycleways. He went on to advise that some cyclists did not cycle as routes are not all joined together which was a real issue. Croxdale and Hett Parish Council were keen to hear from the Sustainable Travel Officer as they were concerned about logistical problems and if the resources would ever be available to complete and deliver the GNC. If the cycling route was to be made safe this would take resources but was an investment.

 

The Strategic Traffic Manager responded that the LCWIPs will determine what structures they currently had, what they needed and where were the demands. We have a lot of data in regard to infrastructure. The Local Transport Plan is funded annually and a significant proportion goes to cycling and walking. We must change the attitude of people to walk and cycle and create a demand.

 

The Sustainable Travel Officer indicated that the NCN1 survey had not specifically asked about connectivity and advised that 263 people took part in the survey and questions related to convenience, surface and attractiveness of route. Most of the cyclists that completed the survey were regular local users however some of the respondents were new to the area. The results from the survey were positive and quality principles were used in the questions.

 

The Chair asked if they had any influence on new builds such as industrial or business parks for installing cycle ways.

 

The Strategic Traffic Manager responded that all developments had constraints, but they needed to ensure they got the end results and were very pro-active.

 

The Chair thanked the Strategic Traffic Manager and the Sustainable Transport Officer for their attendance.

 

Resolved: That the report and presentation be noted and a further progress update report on the Cycling and Walking Delivery plan come to a future meeting.