Tolworth station link

Tolworth station site visit

On Thursday 7 January on a very wet morning three campaigners from KCC met on site with three traffic engineers from Transport for London (TfL) and the Cycling Officer from Kingston Council. The meeting was in response to our letter to TfL sent in November.

Many of our members will be aware of three major planning proposals near Tolworth railway station. To the north a large scheme involving around 700 homes is proposed. To the south of the railway a new Premier Inn is envisaged and, most recently Lidl are proposing to move their UK headquarters to a site at the junction of Kingston Road and Jubilee Way.
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Season’s greetings!

Roger's ridesSpecial thanks to everyone who has helped marshal in 2015, particularly with the increased numbers on the rides. It does make things a bit easier!

We’ll see you on the first ride of 2016 – leaving the Ancient Market Place at 10:30am on Sunday 10 January.

Roger, John and Ruth

Bike ride with Mini Holland Committee Chair

KCC discuss Fountains Roundabout with Cllr Terry Paton

KCC discuss Fountains Roundabout with Cllr Terry Paton

On a dull Friday morning in December three campaigners from Kingston Cyclists met with Cllr Terry Paton at the Fountain roundabout in New Malden. Terry is Chair of the ‘Residents Committee’, the Kingston Council body responsible for the Mini Holland, or Go Cycle, Schemes. He is aware of our concerns about the very slow progress RBK has made with this once-in-a-generation opportunity to improve provision for cycling, ameliorate air quality, and reduce traffic congestion.

We discussed the Fountain roundabout. At present it is a major barrier to safe 8 to 80 bike riding for all. Our preference would be for a Dutch style roundabout and we have argued for that. We understand that is only one of several options the Council are considering; all options will make it safer for cycling and more pleasant for locals.
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Christmas special Bread pudding ride to Richmond

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Osterley Park

Sunday 13th December. A cold grey day saw 14 Cyclists leave via Lower marsh, Berrylands, New Malden, Coombe, Ladderstile gate of Richmond park, Ham cross, to Richmond gate & Richmond for lunch at ‘the White cross’, with high tide not due until 4.00pm, even the Riverside railings where safe. After lunch & after Johns annual thank-you speech, saying farewell to 3, but hello to 3 more Cyclists, (how did they know where lunch was ?), via Richmond bridge, Ducks walk, St Margerets, Isleworth, Osterley to Osterley park for Tea & BP, return to Osterley, Hounslow, Whitton, Twickenham, Crane river path, Fulwell, Laurel rd gate of Bushy park, Cobblers walk, Hampton wick gate, Kingston Bridge. Total 22 Miles, 1 new face.

Map:-www.plota route.com/route/146100

Special thanks to everyone who has helped Marshal the Rides this year, particularly with the increased numbers on the rides, it does make things a bit easier knowing that others are watching out for other friends. We look forward to seeing many of you in 2016, and even more new faces.

Roger, John and Ruth.

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.
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Bread pudding ride to Epsom & Kneller Gdns.

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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

Map:- www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/3131141

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

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.

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Bread pudding ride to Merton Abbey mills

Wandle path near Hackbridge

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 !