In the Winter issue:
- Our award-winning ride leaders
- RBK’s New Malden – Raynes Park miniholland debate
- Public consulations on miniholland schemes
Don’t let Mini Holland be a missed opportunity
It is now more than 18 months since Kingston Council (RBK) won over £30m of funding from Transport for London (TfL) for its Mini Holland (MH) schemes. We supported the original bid and see these funds as a ‘once in a generation’ opportunity to provide safe cycling routes in our Borough and to make improvements benefitting all. We appreciate such new developments take time but progress so far has been painfully and disappointingly slow.
The positives:
1 Work on the Portsmouth Road scheme commenced November 2015. This scheme has improved radically to incorporate fully protected space.
2 We are now able to engage regularly and helpfully with both Officers and Councillors.
3 There are some really exciting and innovative schemes under design. Among these schemes are a segregated track on the east side of Wheatfield Way (avoiding the Kingston one way system), the Boardway along the Thames (bypassing, and allowing access to, Kingston Town Centre) and a semi segregated route from Kingston to Tolworth via Surbiton.
The negatives:
1 In the last year the project has had three Programme Managers and a considerable turnover of other staff. There appears to have been a lack of leadership and consistency at the most senior level from Officers.
2 There is a lack of political leadership and enthusiasm for the Programme. This surprises us as the Bid was supported by all political parties, has clear and obvious benefits for the Borough, is funded by a Conservative Mayor and RBK has a Conservative administration and we would expect any local Politician to support a scheme involving money being spent on, and in, his or her Borough.
3 There is very considerable support for the New Malden to Raynes Park route, which outweighed the poorly informed opposition, but we are frustrated that this scheme does not appear to have unequivocal backing from the Council. We understand there are issues to be resolved with Thames Water but that should not prevent RBK, TfL and Thames Water entering into a Memorandum of Understanding, or similar, to secure funding and proceeding to consultation.
4 We currently understand it is unlikely any scheme will be brought to consultation before the Mayoral elections “purdah” period; March to May 2016.
Continue reading
Bread pudding ride to Epsom & Kneller Gdns.
Hogsmill bridge, Berrylands
Sunday 22nd November, Part 1. An Icily cold, sunny Morning saw 11 Cyclists leave via Lower Marsh, Berrylands, New Malden, Malden manor, Worcester park, Nonsuch park, East Ewell, Epsom to Epsom common for lunch at ‘the Cricketers’ then via Horton, where a small detachment thought they knew a different route, but with all back together, St. Ebba’s path, Hogsmill river path, West Ewell, Tolworth greenway, King Charles, Cranes park to Kingston. Sub-Total 18 Miles, with very special thanks to Diane for help with Marshalling.
Part 2, with the Sky more overcast, but still dry, we said farewell to 6, no fresh faces, (and no Ladies) just 5 Guys left via Canbury gardens, Lower Ham, Aerospace estate, Ham, Ham gate of Richmond park to Petersham gate, Richmond bridge, Ducks walk, St. Margerets, Cole park, Whitton to Kneller Gardens for Tea & BP, then Crane river path, Twickenham, Teddington, Hampton wick & Kingston bridge. Sub-Total 12 Miles. Total 31 Miles
Work starts on Portsmouth Road
At last RBK have started work on a Mini Holland scheme! It has taken a while but they commenced work on Portsmouth Rd on 9 November. Contractors will work on the southern section before Christmas. After Christmas work will start on the northern section. They will try to avoid cutting any major trees. The project will be fully segregated from north to south with a bi-directional cycle lane on the west, or river, side.
Illustration of Portsmouth Road scheme
The southern section will have fully segregated two way 3m wide cycle track at road level. They will retain the existing kerb and pavement. Separation will be by rubber/plastic recycled 1/2m kerb/buffer, 12cm high. This is straight and the road curves so it will be laid in 9 to 10m sections with gaps of 1/2 to 1m for drainage. Each junction opening will have a bollard to make it clear to motors that they should not enter.
The southern section should be structurally complete by Xmas but can not be opened until it is safe which will be some time later as entries and exits have to be secure too. There will be a temporary zebra south of the Mall. Behind the bus stops, opposite St Leonards Rd and South of Palace Rd, there will probably be a raised ramp for bikes. Buses are about 2 an hour, mostly people going into Kingston.
Bread pudding ride to Merton Abbey mills
Wandle path near Hackbridge
Sunday 8th November. An overcast, but otherwise dry pleasant day saw 26 Cyclists, wait whilst a slow puncture was fixed, then via Lower Marsh, Berrylands, New Malden, Motspur park, Joseph hood memorial park, Pyl brook path, Sutton, Carshalton, Hackbridge, then the Wandle trail, Poulter park, Ravensbury park, Morden hall park, more Wandle path to Merton Abbey mills with the majority electing for lunch at ‘the William Morris’, & a few going for lunch at a nearby Cafe, afterwards more Wandle trail to Earlsfield, Wandsworth common, Battersea reach, Wandsworth, Wandsworth park, Putney, Barnes common to Roehampton gate of Richmond park for Tea & BP, then via White lodge, Ham cross, Kingston gate to Kingston. Total 27 Miles, 1 new face, 2 slow punctures.
Map :-www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/3121719
Map
Boardway Consultation
Our campaigners attended, along with other interested parties, a “blue skies” thinking consultation at the Royal Borough of Kingston’s offices on 28 October run by their retained consultants, Atkins Global. There was much discussion of the proposed Boardway, much favourable, some less so. This has the potential to be a great amenity for the community, to improve the waterside and a safe cycle route into and around Kingston Town Centre but let us await some detail !
Bread Pudding ride to Northolt
Marnham fields, Northolt
Sunday 25th October. A bright but chilly day saw 24 Cyclists having remembered to put the clocks back, leaving via Kingston bridge, Bushy park, Hampton hill, Fulwell, Crane river path, Whitton, Isleworth, Osterley park, Norwood green, Southall, Greenford, Marnham fields to Northolt for lunch at ‘the Crown’, then Grand union canal towpath, to Horsenden lane, footbridge over the A40, where a slipped chain caused a small delay, Pitshanger park, North Ealing, West Acton, Acton park, where the intended Tea stop was shut allegedly due to a wasp’s nest, so continuing Acton green, Chiswick, subway below the A4, Grove park, Chiswick bridge, Mortlake, East Sheen, Sheen gate of Richmond park, to Pen ponds for Tea & BP, then continuing to Kingston gate to the Market place. Total 31 Miles, 2 new faces, special thanks to Derek as stand in Back marker.
Map :-www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/3111849
Thankyou !
Best Rides Leader 2015 – London Cycling Campaign
A huge thank-you to everyone who has come out for a Bread Pudding ride this year, we are sure it was a large reason why we have been named as Ride Leader of 2015 by the London Cycling Campaign.
John & Roger
Council debates New Malden to Raynes Park Route
Illustration of proposed greenway
Our petition with 1700 signatures, both paper and electronic, in favour of the proposed New Malden to Raynes Park Mini Holland Cycling and walking route was debated at the Council meeting on Tuesday 13 October at 7.30pm, members of the public attended.
The petition in opposition to the route was also presented. After so many arguments had been raised in opposition the “Antis” confined themselves to one point. They argued the proposed route was a “wildlife valley” and this was not compatible with cycling and walking (or “fast” cycling, as they saw it). The area is not a nature reserve but a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC). It is common for cycling to be allowed in SINC’s and for these areas to have cycle routes through them; they’re often ideal for family cycling.
Parts of the Wandle trail, Morden Hall Park and Hogsmill trail are all SINCs and all are also cycle routes. Therefore this does seem a bit of a non point. As we’ve always said low impact transport like cycling and walking is certainly compatible with a favourable ecology and environment for wildlife; in fact sometimes it can enhance it.
Continue reading
Challenge ride to Fickleshole
Sunday 11th October. a cool Sunny day saw 20 Cyclists gather at the alternative meeting point, Fountain New Malden, go via Motspur park, Bushey Mead, Merton park, Morden hall park, Mitcham, Thornton heath, Selhurst, South Norwood, Monks orchard, Shirley, Addington village, Featherbed lane to Fickleshole for lunch at ‘the White Bear’, then joined by 1 extra Cyclist and with a small ‘breakaway group’ safely Shepherded to Chelsham by John W, Warlingham, Mitchley wood, Riddlesdown common, Purley, South Croydon, Wallington to Beddington park for Tea & BP, then Hackbridge, the Wrythe, Sutton, Pyl brook path, Joseph Hood memorial park, Motspur park to New Malden. Total 36 Miles, 5 new faces.
Map :-www.plotaroute.com/route/126643
Kingston Cycling Campaign 