This event on Saturday 8 September is a very good chance locally to promote cycling, especially as Rushcliffe Borough Council, Nottinghamshire County Council and the Tour of Britain organisers expect to get between 6000-8000 people along to watch the start of the 233km Nottinghamshire leg (the penultimate leg) from Central Avenue, West Bridgford. The start is likely to be at 10.30 (tbc).

There will be a lot of temporary extra cycle parking provided (probably on the nearby tennis courts in Bridgford Park) as they expect a lot of people to come by bike and many of these to cycle on to see the Tour at other places on its route through the rest of Rushcliffe Borough, before it head north into the rest of the county at Gunthorpe Bridge; see www.rushcliffe.gov.uk/tob

As part of the hazards assessment of the route the intention is that all potholes along the route will be identified and repaired!!

The aim is to get lots of community and local business engagement as well as to involve parish councils and others in villages along the route. Information on some of the resources available to do this, which you might like to encourage other people and organisations to take up, are available on the website and from Matt Yorke, RBC, tel. (0115) 914 8218, email: myorke@rushcliffe.gov.uk

Do please spread the word and encourage people to spray old bikes in yellow paint to help liven up the atmosphere. Other creative ideas are very welcome!

As reported in West Bridgford Wire.

Following the great disappointment at the decision last December by the Heritage Lottery Fund not to approve the Sustrans funding bid, despite the extensive support it attracted, there has now been further great disappointment, especially from the Friends of Bennerley Viaduct, at the news that Sustrans have decided, after careful consideration, not to resubmit a second funding bid to the HLF.

Below are the relevant statements from Sustrans and Railway Paths Limited, an associated organisation, as circulated on 8 February 2018 by Dave Clasby from Sustrans:-

“Sustrans have decided not to resubmit a second bid to HLF, as explained in these statements from Railway Paths Limited (RPL) and Sustrans . Sustrans and RPL have said that they now need to rethink their strategy as to how to bring this amazing structure back into use as a walking and cycling route.”

Railway Paths Limited’s statement on the future of the Bennerley Viaduct

“As the owner and custodian of the Bennerley Viaduct we were disappointed that a bid to restore and open up the viaduct as a walking and cycling route was not successful in winning a Heritage Lottery Fund grant. We are also disappointed that Sustrans will not be resubmitting the bid but understand the reasons behind the decision.

We remain committed to this viaduct and would like to see it opened as a walking and cycling route. The Railway Paths Limited Board is meeting next week and will be discussing options for the future of the viaduct together with Sustrans. We are keen to build on the local support for the viaduct that has been generated to date as we see this as being key to the successful development of the project.”

Will Haynes, Principal Officer of Railway Paths Limited

Sustrans’ statement on the future of the Bennerley Viaduct

“Sustrans has been working to restore and open up a multi-million pound project Bennerley Viaduct as a walking and cycling route for over three years. In August 2017, as part of this work, we applied for a large grant from Heritage Lottery Fund (HFL), for which we were turned down in December 2017.

Although the HLF board considered the project to be a strong one, the bid was not successful, as it was not considered to provide the same level of outcomes and values for money as competing applications. Despite the outcomes, the HLF said they would welcome a revised application.

In January 2018, after careful consideration, Sustrans made a decision not to re-submit the application in its current form to the HFL for the following reasons:

• The financial risk to Sustrans posed by the match funding requirement of almost £2m.
• The continued investment of staff and cash resources both in developing the re-submission and, if successful, the Stage 1 proposal.
• Bennerley Viaduct is not part of the National Cycle Network which requires significant investment across the UK. We are currently reviewing the Network and identifying investment priorities which makes prioritising a large single site project that is not connected to the National Cycle Network hard to justify at this stage Sustrans is exploring a number of options for the future of the viaduct, working with the owner of Bennerley, Railway Paths Limited. We are committed to working with the local community and recognise their ongoing support as being key to the successful development of Bennerley”

Xavier Brice, CEO Sustrans.

Keith Morgan of Nottingham City Council attended the 16/10/17 Pedals meeting to discuss the proposals for Broadmarsh redevelopment. Here are the key points:

Concerns and issues to consider:

• Concerns that without segregation along Canal Street that with the level of buses, bus stops and car park access it will replicate Parliament Street, which is not seen as a good environment for cyclists.
• Ensuring there is a clear north – south route for cyclists and show options:
  • Highlight you can’t cycle in the BM centre but there is a connection via Lister Gate
  • More detail for Middle Hill to see how this will work for cyclists
  • MMW should have a better connection at the Toll House Hill roundabout to connect northbound cyclists to Parliament Street (without needing to get into right hand lane)
  • Provision for cyclists heading south down Grey Friar Gate to get to Wilford Road which leads to wider connections to the south/south west
• Concerns cycle connections will require a large number of stop start toucans and island hopping
• A discussion should be had with NCP to see if secure parking can be provided in the Arndale
• Provision to allow cyclists to get between Middle Hill and Trent Street

Pedals would like more information on:

• Location of cycle parking
  • In the new bus station
  • On street
• Location and number of bus stops
• Number of buses which will be on Canal Street at peak times
• Location of car park entrance
• When the traffic switch will take place to remove traffic from Canal Street
• Capacity of the new Broadmarsh car park

Incidentally, an item appeared in the 3 Nov Nottingham Evening Post on the dangers for cyclists in the Broadmarsh area.

Image: Mark Fear, Nottingham Evening Post

Pedals is well aware of the increasing problem of abuse by taxi drivers with the Queen’s Bridge Road cycle route and we are pressing the City Council for urgent action to address it. We are also are very concerned about the poorly designed new taxi feeder lane (especially as we were not consulted on the plans) which may well make this an ongoing problem without the City Council modifying the layout and taking the dangers of increased conflict between cyclists and taxi drivers much more seriously!

To help tackle this menace it would be very helpful please for people to send details of continuing problems, including the number plates of taxis obstructing cyclists, to the City Council. Please send details to John Bann: john.bann@nottinghamcity.gov.uk Photos and video footage would also help them to take appropriate action.

Dec 1 Update:

Update of 17 May, 2018:

See “Work starts on Nottingham cycle bridge linking Boots to University Boulevard” on the West Bridgford Wire website.

Proposed cycle route between University Boulevard and Thane Road (click for detailed view)

Pedals generally supports this proposed cycle route between University Boulevard (near the Tennis Centre) and Thane Road (Boots). It includes a new foot-cycle bridge over the railway. Due for completion by Easter 2018.

Approximate north end point of the route

Approximate south end point of the route