With The Lake District and The Yorkshire Dales on our doorstep - KDCS offers an exciting selection of cycle rides throughout the local area and beyond. There are social gatherings including slide shows, talks and supper evenings and members are kept up to date with cycling news and issues through this web site, emails and our Facebook pages. KDCS are an affiliated group of Cycling UK.

Friday, March 18, 2011

Survey results in on Arnside viaduct

We've had the following update from Stuart at ATOG (the campaign for the Arnside to Grange cycle/footpath):

’The results of County Councillor Ian Stewart’s survey are in and out of 800 sent out and 464 replies, 371 were in favour of the proposal for a cycle/footpath alongside the viaduct and 93 were against. In addition there were 48 in favour from Arnside School.

Ian says that the next step is to get this included in the Cumbria Local Transport Plan, and then to try and overcome the obstacles which have been pointed out.

Then someone will have to come up with a design that works, and then we need to see how it could be funded.

We are still waiting for a Sustrans to let us know whether Network Rail have come up with a price for the work.

Thanks to all who were able to respond to the survey.’

Since then, the Gazette have picked the story up. You can read their report here.

Monday, March 07, 2011

Update on Arnside–Grange cycleway/footpath from ATOG

Counciller Stewart's questionnaire has started to arrive in Arnside and we only have until 11 March to reply.

The introduction to the survey says that if there is sufficient support in favour of creating this access then Councillor Stewart will seek to have the project included in the Local Transport Plan 3 (2011-2026). The first step will be to have a feasibility study to look at the technical and safety issues. This project would sit alongside many other projects all needing funding, so there would be no guarantee that it would become a reality any time soon, particularly in view of the current harsh financial climate.

The document then lists 3 positive and 4 negative points that Councillor Stewart has heard so far.

Positive
It will make Arnside less of a 'bottleneck' during the busy season.
It will link in with potential Arnside station improvements.
It would be a useful short-cut over the estuary, forming part of the proposed coastal trail route.

Negative
It is not wanted by Arnside residents.
It would spoil the look of the viaduct.
It will be of no benefit to Arnside because walkers and cyclists don't spend money in the shops.
Arnside gets full already and can't cope with more visitors, and there is nowhere for people to park.

There is a Yes/No reply slip with comments enclosed with the letter.

Sadly, the survey is not available on line but the councillor says that he looks forward to hearing from us by Friday 11 March.

If you live in Arnside, you can use the following freepost address:
Freepost, Area Support Team, County Council Offices, Kendal, Cumbria, LA9 4RQ.

If you do not live in Arnside, you cannot use this address but you could still send your comments to the councillor c/o the County Council offices (marked 'urgent' or with 'Arnside to Grange cycleway' because of the 11 March deadline).

Sustrans are still waiting to hear from Network Rail what the cost of the work would be so that they consider raising funding.

Please encourage anyone you know who will be getting the survey to respond positively to the proposal for the cycleway.