Regarding the request for a footbridge to link to the ‘mid point’ of the cycleway, I presume you are talking about only the southern section of cycleway up from Berrywood Road along the old length of Sandy Lane to Weggs Farm Road, not also including its extension northwards along the eastern verge of the new road, under Port Road bridge, up to the Harlestone Road roundabout.  If we are talking about the southern section only, I also presume reference to a bridge along the ‘mid point’ of this section is some sort of crossing of the ditch which runs along the hedge line parallel to the estate. 

The principal justification and reason for the new cycleway, taken as a whole, is safe off-road cycle provision associated with the new SLIN road, and as such access is provided at the Berrywood Road and Weggs Farm Road areas only, as regards the length in question. From the perspective of local residents, anyone in this part of the St Giles Park estate wishing to make a cycle journey north is able to use quiet roads, paths etc. within the estate to reach it via Weggs Farm Road, those going south likewise, although in the absence of the Sandy Lane Relief Road not being built as yet, it has more limited value currently in that direction.

I am informed by our resident engineer on site at the time of construction (Phil Whitehouse) that full dropped kerbs were provided to prevent cyclists having to dismount to gain access, in this respect we are unclear as to the location on the cycleway you are referring to, but in terms of the proper use of the cycleway and recognised access points, I understand dropped kerb provision is to standard.

Turning finally to the dog waste bins, it has been noted that despite recognised access to the cycle path being at the two ends, dog walkers are routinely cutting through the hedge, over the ditch (subject of footbridge request?) from the estate and allowing dogs to foul the cycleway.  The cycleway was not built for this purpose as you can imagine, and by providing a footbridge at the mid-point, this would rather than having any meaningful added value for cyclists originating from the estate (see second paragraph above) only make this practice more prevalent.  There are plenty of footpaths and verges within the estate for exercising dogs.

The increased costs incurred during the contract for Sandy Lane Improvement North mean there are no longer funds to carry out these works directly from the scheme budget.  I hope members of the EWP will appreciate our reasons for not wishing to provide a footbridge, and furthermore if dog waste bins are still considered essential, you might like to consider approaching Andrew Leighton (NCC Community Liaison Officer, tel: 01604 364341) who may be aware of budgets that might be available for this purpose.

I trust the above is useful.

Regards

Simon Levell