Representation by Andrew Kirkham
- Date submitted
- 1 October 2020
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I have cycled extensively throughout Northumberland - touring, fitness training, and commuting. I now live in []and cycle in the lanes to the north west and south west but I struggle to find a cycle friendly route east/west across the A1 that would link up to the coast and castles cycle route and all the facilities and attractions of the coast. I see a stream of cyclists come up from the Newcastle direction through Whalton and Netherwitton but there is no good route back to the coast across the A1 that would allow them to do a loop - and spread their coffee/cake/lunch money at more businesses - cyclists are good customers - usually very hungry and thirsty! There is the very good cycle track alongside the new by-pass to Ashington and you can work your way out to the coast that way - but essentially it is alongside a major road - good for commuting but maybe not for pleasure/fitness/family cycling. Back in Summer 2018 I queried cycling provision in the new A1 Morpeth to Felton scheme - see attached emails. The plans showed no obvious provisions for cyclists to cross the A1. At the showing of the plans the answer I got was ‘cyclists can use the pavements on the new roundabouts and bridges’. The written reply amounts to pointing out that there will be a bridge at Causey Park. I wonder if - as the plans have developed - there are specific cycle access and routes now planned? One of the best east/west routes I think is from Longhorsley through Causey Park/Chevington Moor and pass the Seddon’s caravan park to Widdrington roundabout then to Druridge. There is a new cycle cafe at Cresswell or the visitors centre at Druridge Bay to spur you on! Please see the photo attached - for this route to be cycle friendly there are two issues with the section from Causey Park Bridge to Chevington Moor - marked in green on the map. 1 The crossing of the A1 at Causey Park Bridge and the safe linking to the road to Chevington Moor. Do you think it needs more thought than just saying there will be a bridge? 2 Most of the road from Causey Park Bridge to Chevington Moor is a ’new’ road made wide, straight, and fast with wide verges on both sides. Quite a bit of traffic uses this road as a ‘rat run’. At the time the road was ‘improved’ it is unlikely that they would have been thinking that provision of a cycle lane on one of the wide verges was a priority. I think with the work on the A1 underway this might be a great time to remedy this omission and put in a cycle lane using one or both of the wide verges - this would have to filter into the 0.5 miles of original lane at the Chevington Moor end unless the cycle lane could run alongside the road in the fields similar to the Warkworth to Alnmouth route. I can provide a map if needed.