Representation by Dartford & Gravesham Cycling Forum (Dartford & Gravesham Cycling Forum)
- Date submitted
- 31 March 2021
- Submitted by
- Non-statutory organisations
Introduction The Dartford & Gravesham Cycling Forum promotes Active Travel within the boroughs of Dartford & Gravesham. It seeks to maximise the opportunities to expand and improve the local Active Travel Infrastructure in the two boroughs and in doing so expand local residents travel choices within their localities. The Forum objects to the proposal put forward for consideration on the basis that it does not deliver significant improvements to the local active travel infrastructure. Policy Considerations: The National Planning Policy Framework Chapter 9 • “Promoting sustainable transport” is extremely specific about the need to prioritise cycling and walking and develop active travel infrastructure solutions. • London Resorts proposals do not go far enough to meet these requirements both within the development boundary and in the surrounding local areas. • Supporting facilities such as cycle parking, changing facilities and e-bike recharging points are not detailed with in the submission. Gear Change and LTN 1/20: • Is Government Policy and represents the latest thinking in cycle infrastructure delivery and design. It states that: “Networks and routes should be Coherent; Direct; Safe; Comfortable and Attractive.” • The proposals for cycling are not enough to achieve meaningful improvements to the local cycling infrastructure, both in terms of network development and the design standards required to meet the ambitious objectives set by central Government. Routes: • Within the resort the Forum is concerned about the design and extent of the proposed cycle and walking routes. Routes do not conform to minimum width requirements, the “dynamic kinetic envelope of cyclists” is ignored in the documentation. • Users of tricycles, quadricycles, cycle trailers and cargo bikes are not considered, raising access issues for less abled cyclists, families and environmentally aware businesses. • The resort footprint acts as a barrier to active travellers along the east /west alignment depriving the area of coherent and direct routes. Without more detailed proposals from both the London Resort and the Ebbsfleet Development Corporation it is difficult to assess if a good, high-quality network is achievable. • The Cycling forum has reservations about the alignments, quality, connectivity and road safety of the external “Key Routes” identified by London Resort, and feel that closer examination is necessary. • The “Key Routes” identified by the London Resort are unsuitable for users of tricycles, quadricycles, cycle trailers and cargo bikes raising access issues for less abled cyclists, families and environmentally aware businesses. Road Safety: • There are various at grade crossing points where pedestrian and cyclist safety are an issue, in particular where routes cross roads with 40 mph or higher speed limits. • Proposals to use advisory on road cycle lanes which offer little or no protection to users are not conducive to encouraging guests to travel sustainably to the Resort. Air Pollution: • Dartford and Gravesham have between them some of the worst air pollution in the country, as a group promoting active travel, good quality air is a prerequisite, the increase in traffic by the resort will have a negative impact on local air quality and subsequently on the health of local communities.