Two consultations on cycle lanes - Kennedy Road to Cotswold Road, and Rodford Way

These consultations will be of interest to motorists who use these roads, not just cyclists.

South Glos Council is consulting on two schemes to make local roads safer for cyclists. In both cases existing advisory cycles lanes (dotted) would be converted to mandatory cycle lanes (solid white lines).

As well as making the cycle lanes more visible and therefore safer, motor vehicles will be prohibited from driving or parking in the cycle lanes - it's not illegal at the moment.

Access to premises, parking bays and junctions along the route would be not be affected by this proposal.

That's basically all that's proposed on the Rodford Way scheme - the consultation can be found here and it runs until 11th March. The new mandatory cycle lanes here will help enforce "No U Turn" restrictions because it should hopefully stop the dangerous manouvre by larger vehicles that sweep through the cycle lanes to turn round.

There's a bit more to the Kennedy Road to Cotswold Road scheme, where only part of the length has cycle lanes at the moment. It will mean that there will be continuous cycle lanes both ways from the Normandy Drive pedestrian crossing to Smarts Green. The consultation can be found here and it runs until 15th March.

Shire Way traffic scheme consultation

If you've driven down Shire Way in the last few days you may have seen the yellow "Proposed traffic scheme consultation" signs, but even if you've looked on the South Glos consultation web page it's not very easy to find.

It's actually listed as “Yate Spur - Link to Central Yate” because it's to do with improving the access to the Yate Spur signed cycle route. The aim is to enhance safety for cyclists and encourage additional non-motorised journeys.

The proposal is to put two advisory cycle lanes, each 1.5 metres wide, down Shire Way from the Rodford Way junction to the zebra crossing that leads to Sargeant's Farm Bridge and the path and cycle track across Wapley Common.

Under this plan, the space for the cycle lanes would be freed up by removing the speed-restricting build-outs and the centre line. There would also be a short diagonal cycle path to the gate next to zebra crossing, so that cyclists and pedestrians would meet at the gateway.

The consultation is only open until 25 July, so please could people make their views known to South Glos.Here are a few things to think about:

• If you're a local motorist, do you think that removing the build-outs would increase traffic speeds on Shire Way? Would removing the centre line increase road hazards?
• If you're a cyclist, would the proposed arrangement make you feel any safer?
• If you walk across to Wapley, would you want cyclists and pedestrians coming together right on the gateway, next to the notice boards?
• If you're a local resident, can you see parking problems if the cycle lanes are installed on this stretch, bearing in mind that there have been efforts to stop people parking on the grass?

 You can get direct to the consultation by clicking on this link

Yate Spur cycle route - latest update

Here's the latest update about the long-awaited cycle track between Yate and the Railway Path, the cycling "superhighway" between Bristol and Bath. At the moment the Yate Spur only comes out as far as the T junction on Westerleigh Road south of Westerleigh.

• Westerleigh Road T junction to Broad Lane (Cornerways) - inside the farmer's field up to the former Cornerways Nursery - You will probably have seen the fencing and the signs, with not much work going on lately. They struck a sewage pipe that wasn't on ANYBODY'S maps, and they've had to do some redesign. Work should start again shortly for completion in the Spring, together with appropriate direction signs.
• Broad Lane - has already been upgraded.
• Broad Lane to Nibley Lane Corner - the "Westerleigh bypass" - being designed, awaiting funding. This will probably be the last stretch of the whole project.
• Nibley Lane Corner improvements - recently consulted about - on hold until Spring 2018 because of extra traffic during the Bromley Heath Viaduct work.
• Section under railway viaduct to Westerleigh Rd mini-roundabout - detailed design nearly complete, awaiting funding
• Westerleigh Rd mini-roundabout to Yate Common - on hold until January 2018 because of railway embankment work near Chedworth

Once the section alongside Westerleigh Road to Cornerways is done, there will be a continuous link from the Railway Path to opposite Wot Not at the north end of Westerleigh. We are pressing for any outstanding maintenance to be carried out between Broad Lane and Wot Not - it tends to get overgrown from time to time.

When the rest of the path is approaching completion there will need to be proper direction signs for the full length. We are also asking for the narrow part of the path across Yate Common to be reviewed. This will help disabled users too -  there are now "Radar" key gates at both ends, but parts of the path are too narrow for two motorised scooters to pass each other. The details of the widening will of course be discussed with the Friends of Yate Common and Yate Town Council because of the enviromental sensitivity of the area.

We'll keep you posted on Yate Spur progress every few months.

Studies approved for new Yate and Chipping Sodbury Metrobus, Park and Ride

The West of England Combined Authority, which consists of council leaders from Bristol, South Gloucestershire and Bath & North East Somerset (B&NES) councils and Metro Mayor Tim Bowles – have agreed £1.2million to investigate whether it is financially viable to go ahead with 21 transport projects which include four new MetroBus routes around Bristol, six new park and ride sites, and other transport projects.

Among the studies is an outline investigation into the A432 corridor to Yate and Chipping Sodbury, including MetroBus, a strategic cycle route, Park and Ride, Yate Station enhancements and a bypass for Winterbourne and Frampton Cotterell.

Busy environmental weekend coming up

Lots of green things to do this weekend - all free!

Fri 22 September
The Conservation of British Owls – illustrated talk by local expert Ian McGuire
7.30 pm at Yate Library
(Wapley Bushes Conservation Group, sponsored by South Gloucestershire Council)

Sat 23 September
Kennedy Way Pond work morning
The Southwold Group of the Avon Wildlife Trust will be working at local wildlife haven Kennedy Way Pond, on the corner with Link Road, Yate, carrying out vegetation clearance and general management. Meet at the pond (near the cinema end of the Riverside car park) at 10am.
(Southwold Group of Avon Wildlife Trust)

Sun 24 September
Bicycle Safari – discover local nature on two wheels with expert Ian McGuire. Family friendly, under 12s must be accompanied by an adult.
Bicycle Safari sets off at 11.00 am from Riverside car park next to cinema BS37 4AY
(Joint Cycleway Group)
Come along and meet Dr Bike from 10.15 am to have your bike checked or find out more about safe cycling with family and friends (South Gloucestershire Council Bikeability Team)

Loan Bike Scheme – try before you buy

If you’ve not cycled for a while and would like to get back on a bike for fitness, leisure, or an easy and stress-free way to get to work, then why not give the Loan Bike scheme a try.

The Loan Bikes scheme is different from a daily Bike Hire as their quality bikes can be borrowed for up to a month, absolutely FREE of charge, and are a great way to boost your confidence and discover if cycling is for you before investing in a new bike.

The loan bike scheme is open to anyone who lives, works or studies in Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset. More details here

Yate Spur cycle route progress (and delays)

There's good news and bad news about the long-awaited cycle track between Yate and the Railway Path, the cycling "superhighway" between Bristol and Bath. At the moment the Yate Spur only comes out as far as the T junction on Westerleigh Road south of Westerleigh.

• Westerleigh Road T junction to Broad Lane (Cornerways) - inside the farmer's field up to the former Cornerways Nursery - Construction starts this month, taking 4 months
• Broad Lane - has already been upgraded
• Broad Lane to Nibley Lane Corner - the "Westerleigh bypass" - being designed, awaiting funding
• Nibley Lane Corner improvements - recently consulted about - on hold until Spring 2018 because of expected heavy traffic during the Bromley Heath Viaduct work
• Section under railway viaduct to Westerleigh Rd mini-roundabout - being designed, awaiting funding
• Westerleigh Rd mini-roundabout to Yate Common - on hold until January 2018 because of railway embankment work near Chedworth

Once the section alongside Westerleigh Road to Cornerways is done, there will be a continuous link from the Railway Path to opposite Wot Not at the north end of Westerleigh. We are pressing for any outstanding maintenance to be carried out between Broad Lane and Wot Not - it tends to get overgrown from time to time.

Yate Spur cycle path - B4465 to Broad Lane Westerleigh

Work on the Westerleigh Road to Broad Lane (Westerleigh) section of the Yate Spur cycle path has now been scheduled to start on 3 July 2017. It's expected to last for four months.

This is the stretch that starts from the T junction south of Westerleigh, where they recently put in a crossing near the cottages. It will run up inside the farmer's field to what was previously Cornerways Day Nursery, the old school building.

One more small length in the bigger project!

Yate Spur cycle route - general support but some concerns remain

The results of the consultation on the latest parts of the Yate Spur cycle route have been published by South Glos - full details here - scroll down and click on "Consultation Feedback Statement".

This consultation - including a very busy exhibition at Shire Way Community Centre - covered Westerleigh Road between the mini-roundabout and the Common and a refuge on the Nibley Lane arm of the Nibley Lane/Westerleigh Road junction.

In brief, the responses to the consultation were very positive. A total of 67 responses were received:

• 49 responses were in support of the scheme (73%)
• 3 responses objected to the scheme (4%)
• 15 responses stated no preference either for or against the scheme (22%)

The South Glos report responds to all of the points made, and many of the points have been taken into account in the final design.

Local cyclists still have worries about the plans for the Nibley Lane junction, where South Glos say "Funding limitations mean we are unable to carry out a radical remodelling of the junction.... The provision of a mini roundabout has been considered but there is insufficient space available to provide one that provides sufficient visibility without taking additional land which would increase time and costs significantly". In answer to the concerns, South Glos say "the proposals will be subject to the Road Safety Audit process which should identify any safety issues with the proposals"

The likely timing of the path works is now:

• Westerleigh Road (Shire Way to Rodford Way) section starting July
• Nibley Lane junction late 2017 / early 2018

That will leave two gaps:

• Under the Rodford Elm railway arch to join the existing Westerleigh Road path to the new section - this needs engineering design that has to be agreed with Network Rail, who have already agreed in principle. Design discussions are in progress.
• The "Westerleigh bypass" from Nibley Lane to Dodmoor Crossing. The design is being done this year, and again network rail have agreed in principle. Some land ownership needs to be clarified in case the route is not all on Network Rail land.

The gradual progress is welcome, but with some reservations about Nibley Lane junction. When the whole scheme is complete - hopefully by April 2019 - there will be a safe cycle (and pedestrian) route from Yate to the Bristol - Bath Railway Path and the Ring Road Path.


 

Yate Spur cycle consultation - please send in your views now

Focus Team members Paul Hulbert and
Claire Young at the Shire Way drop-in session

This week's drop-in session at Shire Way was very well attended - 66 residents came along to find out more about the cycle path proposal and to voice support and/or concerns. Please could everyone now let South Glos have their views by email or letter. Full details of the scheme and how to comment are on the South Glos website. The consultation closes on Sunday 15 January.

This is the next stage of linking our area to the Ring Road cycle path and the Bristol and Bath Railway Path so that we're no longer out on a limb as far as cycle routes are concerned.

Reminder - Drop-in exhibition for Yate Spur cycle path TODAY

Just a reminder of the drop-in at Shire Way Community Centre today (Thursday 5 January) from 4pm to 8pm to give an opportunity to see a display of the plans and to discuss them with the StreetCare Team.

This will be of particular interest to local cyclists, country walkers, residents of Chedworth and Rodborough and motorists that use Nibley Lane as a cut-through.

The plans propose changes to the Westerleigh Road / Nibley Lane junction and creating a joint pedestrian / cycle path alongside the length of Westerleigh Road between the mini-roundabout and the big Rodford Way roundabout.

Click here for more details of the proposals here and click here to see the plans and comment online

The consultation closes on Sunday 15th January. 

Drop-in exhibition for Yate Spur cycle path

As we told you last week, South Gloucestershire Council is consulting on plans for the next stage of the Yate Spur cycle path to link our area to the Ring Road cycle path and the Bristol and Bath railway path.

The plans propose changes to the Westerleigh Road / Nibley Lane junction and creating a joint pedestrian / cycle path alongside the length of Westerleigh Road between the mini-roundabout and the big Rodford Way roundabout.

South Glos has arranged a drop-in at Shire Way Community Centre on Thursday 5 January from 4pm to 8pm to give an opportunity to see a display of the plans and to discuss them with the StreetCare Team.

You can also click this link to see the plans and comment online

When you’re reading the plans, please bear in mind that they’ve mislabelled the section between the roundabouts as part of “Shire Way”, when it’s actually Westerleigh Road.

The consultation closes on Sunday 15th January.

Yate Spur cycle path consultation - Westerleigh Rd and the Nibley Lane junction

 A consultation has just opened on new parts of the Yate spur cycle path. South Glos Council are looking for your views on them providing a shared use cycle/pedestrian path along the western side of Westerleigh Road between the mini-roundabout and the Common and a refuge on the Nibley Lane arm of the Nibley Lane/Westerleigh Road junction. Depending on the feedback, construction of both is expected to take place next summer.

We have stressed that the Nibley Lane junction has additional problems - it's not an easy junction at the best of times - and that nearby residents will need proper consultation about the Westerleigh Road length. So this consultation isn't just for cyclists - if you drive along Westerleigh Road or you live in Chedworth or Rodborough you will have a particular interest in the proposals. The consultation is open until 15 January.

The council engineers are awaiting results from recent ground investigations before starting the design of the section going under the Shire Way railway bridge in early 2017. They are liasing with Network Rail, who they hope will approve the design in the spring so construction can take place in the summer. Progress is also being made on a legal agreement with the landowner to enable the Westerleigh Road to Cornerways section to be completed, hopefully next spring.

That leaves the section from Dodmoor Crossing to the Nibley Lane junction. The engineers aim to approach landowners, process legal agreements and develop the design during 2017, so it can be constructed in 2018 if funding is available.

Community family bike rides Sep 25, Yate

As part of the South Gloucestershire Discover Festival there will be two community family bike rides on Sunday 25 September at 11.00 am and 1.00 pm.

The rides start from Yate Library and will cover a distance of approx 5 miles, taking about 1 hour to complete. Please bring your own bike and wear a helmet.

The event is free but you'll need to register here for the 11.00 am event or here for the 1.00 pm event

For more events please check out the Discover Festival website - there's something for everybody!

Yate Spur cycle path update

Work on the section of the cycle path between Nibley Lane and the Shire Way railway viaduct (pictured above) was completed earlier this summer. It'll make more sense, of course, when it's joined up at the ends.

In recent weeks, it’s been confirmed that South Glos has secured £400,000 for further work this financial year.

In September the council will be starting a consultation on a pedestrian refuge at the Nibley Lane junction, the path under the viaduct and the Shire Way section. The council is also working towards securing land for the Westerleigh Road to Broad Lane section.

While it’s good to see further progress being made, more funding will be needed in future years for the construction of the path between Dodmoor Crossing and Nibley Lane, to complete the "Westerleigh cycle bypass". This is arguably one of the parts of the route that will bring the biggest safety improvements.

We need to keep up the pressure to make sure this important cycle route is completed. If you haven’t done so already, you can sign our petition at tinyurl.com/cyclelink