Shilling's Yard, Parham Road, Canterbury [CA/10/01624]
Student accommodation and cycle parking.
Issues
This section lists issues - problems on the street network and related matters.
Issues always relate to some geographical location, whether very local or perhaps city-wide.
You can create a new issue using the button on the right.
Listed issues, most recent first:
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Improvements to 20mph signage
They propose improving the 20mph signage in the city centre.
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Sittingbourne Mill redevelopment
Redevelopment of the Sittingbourne Mill site to include a superstore, approximately 150 new houses, and a park.
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Dropped kerb on Christchurch Street
A dropped kerb with and footway extension to 'facilitate' cycle route.
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Lighting on Parker's Piece
A proposal to install lighting on the mid points of the footpaths on Parker's Piece.
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Westwood Road cycle path extension
Proposed new cycle path beside Westwood Road. This closes a gap in the cycle path network in Thanet.
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Lighting Gough Way
A proposal to light the Gough Way cycle/footpath with solar- powered, directional cats eyes. The footbridge will be upgraded soon, so this is the next step. The route is well used.
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Cycle path on Lammas Land
A proposal to put in a new cycle path on the southern side of Lammas Land. The comment next to this in the report dismisses it because of the access road. They feel the loss of green space outweighs the need for it.
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Landscaping at junction of Selwyn/Grantchester Road
This could be important given the traffic calming work that was approved for the section of road outside the rugby ground.
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Mini roundabout for Newlands Park/Westbourne Road near Penge East station
Recently near Petts Wood station there has been a similar junction where the main flow of traffic is round the corner, whilst being a crossroads, which has been changed to a mini roundabout which slows the traffic more and makes it easier for cyclists. http://osm.org/go/0EEBtsaNj-?m
I'm wondering if the same can happen here.
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Resurfacing footpath near Grantchester Meadows
From the West/Central Area Committee agenda, a proposal to resurface the track from South Green Road to the start of the Grantchester Meadows path. They will consider whether to adopt this on 1st March.
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No Right turn from Newnham Croft
In the Environmental Improvements Programme for the West Area Committee, (1st March) they are considering whether to adopt the proposal to ban right turns from Newnham Croft Street.
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Speed humps make cyclists choose a busier route?
A colleague asked if the gate from Downing to the Downing Site was open again, since he needed to go to Pathology. I said it wasn't, but why didn't he take the route I take, down Norwich St, Panton St, Tennis Court Road. Answer, "because I fell off my bike there, those speed humps are dangerous, and if you go slowly enough not to fall off, it's really slow".
Now I find that worrying. I go my way to avoid the awful traffic jams at the junction by the Catholic Church. I think most people would consider it a safer route. But if some cyclists are being put off going that way, and instead taking the zoo that is Regent St in preference, well, I don't think the traffic calming is doing the job intended.
Too late to fix this here, but we must make it a priority that any future traffic calming in the city or South Cambs doesn't inadvertently act as an anti-cyclist measure and force cyclists onto the much busier main roads which I'm sure everyone would prefer them not to use if there's a better a and quicker route. But if the traffic calming, that was presumably done, in part, to improve cycle safety, has failed, this is a waste of money. The speed humps on Bateman St, unless you do a slalom, you have to cycle over and the ones on Norwich St are viscious. I've just got good at taking them at speed as I've had plenty of practice.
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Cambridge North railway station
New station that will serve the northern part of Cambridge, specifically the Science Park - but also by extension through the guided bus, villages to Northstowe.
This provides a good opportunity to construct another section of the Chisholm Trail (especially a link over the river and on to Newmarket Road). We must also ensure that any footbridge provides facilities for those with bikes AND that there is adequate cycle parking.
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Times Campaign - Cambridge
The Times is running a campaign for cycle safety.
How can we best capitalise on this in Cambridge?
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Proposed 30mph on Church Lane, Whitstable
Speed limit reduction from National Speed Limit to 30mph on this narrow section of road which forms part of National Cycle Route 1.
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River Dour Greenway phase 2 (Ladywell to seafront)
Phase 2 of the River Dour Greenway will connect the existing portion of the River Dour Greenway cycle route with National Cycle Routes 1 and 2 on Dover's seafront. It'll also connect to Regional Cycle Route 17.
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Oyster Bay Trail phase 2 (Swalecliffe to Whitstable)
The Oyster Bay Trail phase 2 will close a gap in the cycle network between the existing Oyster Bay Trail at Swalecliffe, Herne Bay and Reculver, the Viking Coastal Trail around Thanet, and the Crab & Winkle Way between Whitstable and Canterbury.
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Great Stour Way link
This proposed cycle path will remove the need to climb a hill when following the Great Stour Way to reach Canterbury city centre. It'll also increase the proportion of traffic-free path used for the route and remove some areas of potential conflict with other road users due to parked cars.
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St. Radigunds riverside cycle path
Completion of this section of the riverside cycle path will allow students to cycle virtually traffic free from the Parham Road Student Village into Canterbury city centre. Making this route cycleable will allow the existing and proposed developments at the Parham Road Student Village to fulfil their car-free objectives.
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Ainsworth Street pedestrian crossing blocked by cars
The pedestrian crossing joining the pavements here are frequently blocked by parked cars.
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Fairsford Place - lack of cycle parking
This development (a clear case of squeezing a quart into a pint-pot) has no cycle parking.
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St Matthew's Gardens - parking proposals
This attractive, car-free development - heavily used as a cycling and walking route - has gradually turned into an ugly car park in recent months following the temporary removal of enforcement. The County Council are proposing partial re-regulation of parking.
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Orchard Park, shops
An article in today's Cambridge News about the new shops in Orchard Park isn't encouraging reading.
Link to article is
http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Home/Build-us-some-more-shops-or-well-all-get-in-our-cars-17022012.htmThe headline says it all. They are proposing shops that will probably only act as "corner shops" so people will all drive along the A14 or Kings Hedges Road to Milton Tesco.
This seems on the face of it, to add to the general anti-cycling design that Orchard Park has had since the first bulldozers went into action. I don't know what others think, or what can be done about it. Presumably a too large supermarket isn't wanted there, as then it would become a magnet for people outside of Orchard Park to drive to, unless, but this is not a suggestion that is possible, it had virtually no car parking, just for the disabled, but lots of bike parking, and good smooth pedestrian paths to all the houses.
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20mph limits in Cambridge
A 20mph limit in residential areas of Cambridge would vastly improve safety and enable more people to cycle. What extent should it cover and how can we achieve it?
This map shows all issues, whether points, routes, or areas:
The most popular issues, based on the number of votes:
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No cycling space on Marine Parade
Residents of Kemptown are unable to join the Madeira Drive cyclepath approaching it from the north unless they cycle along Marine Parade to the Pier or to the Duke's Mound sliproad. This means they have two options:
1) cycle on Marine Parade which is a busy A road.
2) cycle on the promenade which is unofficially shared with pedestrians.
Neither of these options are safe.
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Joining Bath Spa Uni with Bristol-Bath Railway Path
For additional commuter access to the Newton Park campus of Bath Spa uni, does anyone have any ideas about upgrading the footpath over the field from route 4, under the railway to the new path on the A4, linking up with the university.
I realise that for westbound commuters, this duplicates the route which took some effort to get made on the A4, and that it needs a new right of way to be made/purchased/recovered from the historic record, but it looks like a good link.
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St. Michael's Retail Park proposed on Smiths Industries site (ex-Tesco)
Area Estates are proposing to build a retail park on the former Smiths Industries site between Winchester Road and Harrow Way, in Basingstoke. This was formerly owned by Tesco, who failed to build a supermarket there.
No cycling access has been proposed, and the provision for cycle parking is inadequate - insufficient for customers, and none for staff.Please submit feedback to the developer.
No planning application yet, but previous applications for the site are here: https://planning.basingstoke.gov.uk/online-applications/propertyDetails.do?activeTab=relatedCases&keyVal=H44MKACRLI568
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Sheen Rd / Upper Richmond Rd West - segregation needed
Despite the cycle lanes being mandatory along this stretch the road layout is such that vehicles frequently intrude into the cyclelane - as this bus did.
White paint does not work on this stretch and some other segregation method is needed -eg a kerb; vertical posts or similar.
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Poor road quality on Newmarket Road
It has an uneven degraded surface in the cycle lanes from the Elizabeth Way roundabout until the bridge.
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Barrier on entrance to Nightingale Valley from Wick Rd
Friend of mine uses a wheelchair & hand cycle and is blocked this gate on his way home. Would be great if we could get it opened for him. [Jack Small]
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U&C Outline planning Application
Objections to U&Cs outline planning application need to be submitted by 10 April. There seem to be some interesting ideas for improving cycling infrastructure but a lot that could be improved upon.
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Hipper Valley Trail: Walton Dam and Somersall Park Poor Surface
This well-used trail is in desperate need of resurfacing. During spells of wet weather, it has large puddles at regular intervals and there is a particularly huge "mud bath" at the western end of Walton Dam just by the entrance to the woods. Currently (July 2014) the mud bath is reasonably, but not completely, dry but as recently as June it has been very muddy and was terrible over winter.
This is one of Chesterfield's major cycling routes and these conditions make it unreasonable to use it for transport journeys (ie. commuting and shopping) in normal clothes because the bike gets caked in mud and it splashes over your shoes and trousers, even with mudguards.
Alongside Walton Dam, I believe this path is supposed to be nominally 3 metres wide but vegetation has grown into the gravel surface making it significantly narrower (single file) in places.
The sloped tarmac section at the Walton Road end is suffering encroachment from overgrown vegetation and there is an unnecessary pinch-point part way down (a row of wooden posts) which could be opened up with perhaps only a single post if really necessary, or ideally none at all.
In Somersall Park, immediately to the south of the river bridge, there is a particularly rough patch of surface which, ironically, is the most recently resurfaced section of path. It's so incredibly rough that you have to be extra careful and slow if carrying delicate items like a laptop or fragile shopping (eg. soft fruit or eggs).
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Busway cycleway flooded
The busway cycleway is sometimes flooded in this section.
The County Council need to address this.
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NE Ipswich missing link at Woodbridge Road railway bridge
The cycle link from Bramley Hill to Haslemere Drive has opened up a route via Lacey Street, Haslemere Drive and Bramley Hill as a much quieter parallel route to Woodbridge Road for cycles.
However, to proceed to North East Ipswich from here means cycling (or indeed walking or driving) via Woodbridge Road at the point where it crosses the railway line. There are no other crossings for a considerable distance to the North or South.
The land fronting Woodbridge Road to the North is currently for sale for residential development.
If this land is developed I believe that this should include an additional cycle and pedestrian bridge over the railway to Belvedere Road to open up access to the residential areas NE of this (as well as Sidegate Lane Primary School) without having to use Woodbridge Road.
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S/3018/15/COND5 Northstowe Phase 1 cycle routes details
Surfacing includes gravel and grit.
Cycle chicanes shown on diagrams.
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signage on cycle-pedestrian path next to Trumpington allotments, Cambridge
Hello, I'm wondering how many other Cambridge cyclists have shared the experience I've had (about once per month now) regarding a particular elderly lady who insists that bikes are not allowed on the "footpath" adjacent to the Trumpington allotments, between Shelford Rd & the new busway in CB2. This path seems clearly demarcated as a shared pedestrian-cycle path on the cycle maps provided at the council link (below). However, it is not clearly labeled as such on the path itself, leading her to become quite angry with any cyclist who gets near her & her dog while they're out walking (and obstructing the path to underscore her point). "It's a footpath" she yells, and storms away.
So my questions are 1) am I correct in interpreting the council map (below) as permitting bikes on this path and 2) how might one go about requesting proper signage, clearly saying bikes & pedestrians are both welcome?
Thanks for any feedback, Robert
https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/sites/www.cambridge.gov.uk/files/documents/cambridge-cycling-map.pdf -
Possible effect on cycle route in Chesterton
Need to check this planning application for access issues. It proposes to make a new car entrance through a high wall across a pavement at the end of Chesterton Road.
The cycleway cut-through here is very poor currently.
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Lack of offer at Hazel Court HWRC
The main HWRC depot which is out of bounds unless you turn up in a car offers a wide range of recycling opportunities. The pedestrian/cycle area directly of Hazel Court offers none of this other than the main recycling types that are available through household waste collections, and tin foil.
Its hardly acceptable to think that just because you're arriving by bike/foot you won't be able bring other items. All that happens is things either get wrongly sorted or left on the floor causing the area to become a state. -
Tennyson Road Crossing NCN 1&11 King's Lynn
This is one of the most difficult and dangerous sections of the local cycle network. A point where cycle traffic to 2 local schools, a college and a local park all meet.
Fast heavy traffic
Very poor sight-lines
Cars parking over dropped kerbs
Any suggestions as to how it can be improved?
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Chartham to Godmersham cycle route
This provides a flatter, shorter, and traffic-free alternative to the National Cycle Route 18 alignment via Sole Street.
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College Walk
College Walk is in a terrible state and the ancient and totally obsolete street lamps no longer turn on at night and off during the day.
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The Avenues cycle route
The Avenues Shambles
Few people who live in the area will be happy with the situation on The Avenues. A couple of years ago the city won a grant to improve cycle routes around the city, called a “Cycle City Ambition Grant”. The first route to be improved was the one that came along the Avenues, known as the “Pink” route. After two years of planning, public meetings and proposals we are left with the dangerous inadequate mess we see today.
Why is The Avenues Special?
Far more bikes use The Avenues than any other road in the city, "nearly 700,000 in 2016 according to the Air Quality Status Report for 2018. Most are students at UEA or workers at the Hospital and Research Parks. It’s also the route hundreds of children should be using to cycle to the City Academy School, so the potential number of cyclists could be even higher if the road were not so dangerous. Logically it should have been the highest priority for providing proper cycle tracks, but it didn’t turn out like that.
Why is it bad?
The road markings only allow enough space for one direction of flow on a two way street, so if it needs to pass traffic has to drive in the cycle lanes and when it gets busy the cycle lane simply disappear. There is basically far too much traffic for this type of design.
Why did we end up with this mess?
That’s a good question but there are clues, take a look on Tombland and the expensive paving around the cathedral gate. All this meant there just wasn’t enough money left to build the proposed cycle tracks and the present botch is the result. The council decided that the cost of doing The Avenues didn’t represent good value for money, yet doing Tombland did. This is a very suspect situation which has left us with an unacceptable, dangerous mess that simply can’t be left as it is.
What can be done?
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Quietway route from Green Park to Marylebone
This issue covers Westminster City Council's proposals for a Quietway route from Green Park to Marylebone
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Queensway Hatfield
Shared use cycle path under construction but delayed completion now set for the end of February 2016. The path with extend the route from Hatfield station up to the town centre and then via the not so good on road lanes to the University and Business Park.
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Off road route to redbourn
Traffic on the redbourn road is often fast and uncomfortable for novice/nervouse riders. The footpath running along Redbourn road sees few walkers and appears suitable for a conversion to a bike route. This is being progresses through the Herts Cycle Forum
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Braidwood Gate missing dropped kerb
There should be a dropped kerb at the foot of Braidwood Gate, leading to Dumbiedykes
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Fixing none optimal lanes
I cycle past this junction a lot, and sometimes the lights are red so I wait and look at the lanes and wonder why they're like this.