This week, the alternative plan for investing in cycling (known as ‘Plan B’) by the New Forest National Park Authority (NFNPA) was rejected as a complete plan by the Department for Transport (DfT). However, some elements of it will receive funding. ‘Plan B’ was widely criticised for being both ineffective in promoting cycling and for being a waste of public money.
As a result of this, over £1.5million will be re-allocated by the DfT to other National Parks to promote cycling.
Plan B consisted of 6 elements, two of which totalled over £1.5m. These two elements – the resurfacing of Rhinefield Drive and investment into Moors Valley Country Park were rejected. This is a good thing as neither of these projects would have benefited cyclists or done anything to promote cycling in our National Park. The four elements of the revised plan that have been approved are:
- £140,000 to be spent on more compacted gravel surfaces on 25km of existing off-road cycle tracks
- £185,000 for a new 2km off-road cycle route from Marchwood to Eling
- £168,000 for 3km of bridleway improvements
- £30,000 for a new 0.5km off-road cycle track at Ringwood.
A brief observation on three of these elements:
- £140,000 (£5,600 per km) spent on putting a different type of gravel on top of existing gravel (it’s more complex than that really…) to make the surface more ‘cycle friendly’. Firstly, this is only 25km (or 15 miles) of tracks. To put this into perspective, there are approximately 482km (300 miles) of forest tracks in the New Forest. Out of this, only ~160km (100 miles) are open to cyclists. The tracks do not link up well with each other, meaning that a round route is often all you can do. Could the NFNPA and Forestry Commission (FC) look into opening up more of these tracks to cyclists, thereby making use of existing infrastructure? As for making the tracks more ‘cycle friendly’ by laying down more compacted gravel, this is debatable as to whether it’s really needed. An MTB or urban bike can travel quite well over the current gravel, in fact a road bike can take much more punishment than given credit for – need convincing? – http://pages.rapha.cc/rides/icknield-way .
- £185,000 (£92,500 per km) for the 2km off-road cycle route from Marchwood to Eling. This is a good move for connecting the two communities and will hopefully be used well. More can be found here. Credit to Councillor David Harrison who is the only openly pro-cycling member of the NFNPA for his work here.
- £168,000 (£56,000 per km) for 3km of bridleway improvements. A bridleway is a path, trail or a thoroughfare that is used by people riding on horses. Many bridleways are also open to cyclists. Should we question how funding specifically to promote cycling can be spent on something that is not specifically for cyclists? This was a big part of the issue with the Rhinefield Drive proposal.
Only 2 out of the four proposals are solely and specifically for cyclists (£215,000). The other two elements are of questionable benefit to cyclists and are not cycling specific (£308,000). Make of that what you will.
One thing is for certain, cycling in the New Forest is not going away
The New Forest National Park will have 30.5 km (~19 miles) of cycle related surfaces that will see investment in 2015 as a direct result of this proposal. Compared with the original, innovative plan that would have played a key part in the national objective of getting more people on bikes and the two outcomes could not have been more different.
Over £1.5million will be allocated by the DfT to other National Parks to promote cycling. It’s good that the money will be put towards cycling, but what a pity that it won’t be in the New Forest.
A big positive is that the proposed Cyclex run cycling centre in Brockenhurst will still go ahead, with some of the funding coming from the NFNPA. The cycling centre was a key part of the original proposal.
One thing is for certain, cycling in the New Forest is not going away, nor is it going to be forced off the roads. If anything, this whole saga has brought cycling to the forefront of the New Forest agenda and as a result, change will happen. Our New Forest National Park is a beautiful part of the country and what better way to enjoy it than on your bike!
Your thoughts?
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