For some time now I have been advocating safe cycling in our community. To start with I am proposing the following and I would like any comments please. There is a long way to go before we (whether young or elderly) can cycle throughout our community safely. However, I believe that if the following routes are tackled first, it will give us a strong base upon which to work and will provide a useful, safe cycling routes through our community.
1. The Staffs. & Worcs. Canal runs through the centre of our community from south to north. It enters the urban part of the village just south of Wolgarston Way close to the large housing estate and then runs past the Druids Way Estate, past Princefield First School and the Saxon Road housing estate. Then under the Cannock Road, past the Boat Inn and Little Marsh and then on past Marsh Lane and Leacroft Road estates before it runs on the eastern boundary of Penkridge Middle School to the Teddesley Road and on towards Acton Trussell and Stafford.
2. Otherton Brook (with its adjacent open space) runs from Boscomoor Lane in the south, through housing estates, under Vale Gardens road and north to where the footpath finishes at New Road, very close to the centre of Penkridge.
With the Canal route we only have to deal with British Waterways (the owners) and with the Otherton Brook route we only have to deal with South Staffs. District Council (the owners). I believe we will find both these authorities sympathetic and co-operative. British Waterways have already expresed an interest. I believe these two routes could be the first of a network of safe cycle routes in our community - all it needs is a partnership between County, District and Parish Councils and British Waterways.
WOULD THE PEOPLE OF PENKRIDGE SUPPORT THIS IDEA? IF THERE IS A RESOUNDING YES FROM CYCLISTS AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, THEN I WILL INITIATE A STEERING GROUP TO TAKE THIS FORWARD. HELP WOULD OBVIOUSLY BE APPRECIATED.
There are obviously many more routes that could be explored but I think they would be more difficult to set up and would take much longer to come to fruition. There would be less red tape with these two routes and they should not be that expensive - but inevitably it will cost. Once we get the ball rolling, however, we can go on to explore other possible routes.
1 comment:
Excellent idea and I would certainly be willing to support and help with any proposal that would develop cycle paths and trails around Penkridge.
A good few years ago, at the annual parish council meeting, I asked a question about the old railway line to Littleton and why this had never been turned into a path to Cannock Chase. There was general support from the floor and I was told someone from the council would get back to me. I'm still waiting!
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