So if you are being stonewalled by the local authority, what is the next step?
H
This is my question.
I emailed Cycling England recently asking for details of the Management Agreement that Southend Council signed before being accepted for funding. I had been led to believe that it includes a statement regarding cycling being a core to the agenda and that they have to consider it in all activities that they perform; certainly not something in evidence on the ground.
The response last week was that the relevant person was on leave, and I'd have to wait until she is back since the original person was not aware of which documentation is publicly available. I shall chase this week (btw, does anybody know the rules as to FOI? If the information isn't publically available can I set about requesting it? And how?)
I responded politely, and included the following paragraph.
Out of interest, are you able to say what Cycling England's opinion is as to the progress made so far by Southend? From my limited view here I am getting disappointed at a seeming lack of progress, coupled with some bizarre infrastructure changes - such as the new cycle lane I discovered last month which is painted to the left of a turn left traffic lane!
The response commented on the fact they couldn't comment on specific towns (understandable) and also that Southend has had a change of program manager recently, so some of the program for this financial year might be rescheduled.
The new program manager is the specific individual I questioned twice in public meetings regarding action being taken on cycle route S1 (The A13), and who responded "we will not be touching the A13 as we intend all cyclists to use the Prittle Brook Greenway"*. Why label a cycle route on the cycle network map and in the LTP if you don't intend to construct it? The Prittle Brook Greenway is not only not yet under construction, it is specifically EXCLUDED from the cycle town budget.
If there is to be any change, and I'm expecting any announcement tomorrow, it'll be that the cycle town project will be to get cyclists off of the roads and onto a few disjointed cycle paths that might be painted around inconvenient areas of town.
*As mentioned above the Prittle Brook Greenway is nothing more than an upgraded footpath which crosses 19 side roads in under 2 miles, and provides a longer and slower route for cycling than cycle route S1. The greenway runs from
here to
here via the dotted green public footpath line.