Issue - meetings

Report of the Director for Neighbourhood

Sean Parkes a representative for Nottinghamshire County Council delivered a presentation on Cycling in Nottinghamshire, providing an overview of the County Council’s strategic background, funding for cycling, how potential infrastructure improvements are assessed and prioritised and coordinated behaviour change programmes.

Mr Parkes advised that the County Council is currently reviewing its Strategy Plan for the period 2021-2025, including its Local Transport Plan 2011-2026 and Fourth Implementation Plan 2022/23 which includes the Cycling Strategy Delivery Plan 2016 covering cycling strategic priorities, a Cycling Action Plan and cycling infrastructure priorities.

Mr Parkes explained the Boroughs role as a stakeholder consultee to review and coordinate the role of cycling networks within the County Council’s strategy within the Boroughs responsibilities as follows:

·       Local Plan/Developer Contribution Strategy

·       Cycling Development Plans on the Borough’s estate

·       AQMA action plans

·       Rushcliffe Borough Council’s travel plans (employee/visitors)

Mr Parkes continued, providing the group with examples of funding opportunities available for cycling, explaining the role of Rushcliffe when considering cycling infrastructure in town centre improvements (and other district council) funding bids, securing/releasing funding from developer contributions.

Mr Parkes advised the Group of the DfT requirements in respect of infrastructure assessment, highlighting the D2N2 Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP), an evidence based assessment to demonstrate need for improvements, whilst sharing the D2N2 strategic objectives for supporting economic growth, tourism and the visitor economy, addressing transport congestion, climate change, air quality and health deprivation.  In addition, the assessment aims to identify short (1year), medium (4 years) and long (10 years) term infrastructure priorities.

Nottinghamshire County Council at its Communities and Place Committee approved:

·       Strategic priorities for future highways cycling investment

·       Provisional short-term highway infrastructure priorities

·       Incorporation of ‘Local Transport Note 1.20: Cycle infrastructure Design’ into existing highway design principles

·       Additional assessment/prioritisation of local route improvements

In addition, the Group noted that there is to be a planned public consultation on a draft D2N2 wide infrastructure priorities.

Within the infrastructure assessment, further steps include:

·       Feasibility/design/deliverability – focusing primarily on short term priorities

·       Value for money assessments – dependent on scheme value

·       Criteria for available funding

·       Local support for proposals

The Group noted that the Boroughs potential to influence the infrastructure assessment by acting as a priority consultee, suggesting schemes around planned growth and the integration of infrastructure priorities for future plans and funding.

Mr Hugh McClintock from Pedals delivered a presentation that highlighted the growth in cycling and bike sales over the past 18 months during the Covid pandemic and the Governments current policy, ‘Gear Change’ a bold new vision on cycling and walking, including the revised DfT Local Transport Note 1/20 as touched on in Mr Parkes presentation.

Mr McClintock emphasised the need for a cycling network that is coherent, direct, safe, attractive and comfortable to use, stressing that up to date and accurate maps are essential and should be widely available and promoted.

In assessing the quality of local walking and cycling networks in the Borough, Mr McClintock requested the need for a more coordinated approach with  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4