Enfield Footpaths to benefit from cycle plans?

Many of you will have heard of Enfield’s controversial “Mini-Holland” scheme at a cost of £30m. Members in Enfield will all have their views – whether they are violently for or against the scheme! It involves the provision of cycle lanes on main roads and also an extensive network of “quietways” and “greenways” to take cyclists through quieter parks and the countryside. It is these latter routes that will most affect the recreational walker, as they often involve shared use. However, we walkers should see some benefits in the improvement of footpaths.

One plan is to provide a link through from Enfield to and . The section from through and Hilly Fields to the by the Royal Chace Hotel is already signed and upgraded. The section through Hilly Fields has proved unpopular with local residents, but the path through Forty Hall is providing all-year access for buggies and wheelchairs as well as cyclists. The next bit for upgrade is along the path of the London Loop to Trent Park and to Stagg Hill. Work should start in March next year and take 6 months. Public access will be maintained where possible while it is going on. The plan is to do it sensitively, using a fairly natural hoggin surface and taking agricultural land alongside the path to widen it so that trees and hedges will not be seriously impacted. Some walkers will be alarmed at the prospect of sharing their route with cyclists. I have personally found the route to be very boggy underfoot in the winter, and overgrown to be almost impenetrable at times in the summer. Good drainage and a greater width will therefore be welcome to me. And although this could theoretically provide a rat run for commuters, serious cyclists are likely to find Hadley Road more practical, so we are more likely to be sharing with leisure cyclists going at a reasonable pace.

Another proposed change is to the Path. The main A105 cycle route is planned to cross the North Circular into Palmerston Road to the south. There are two proposed alternatives to get there: along Palmerston Crescent, or along the New River parallel to it, which will require it to be widened to 4.5m – a major construction job. These cyclists would be using it as a road along this stretch, so may be hard to contend with. There is also concern about a quietway through which would share the New River Path. You can read all about the cycle scheme at http://cycleenfield.co.uk/ and see a map of all the proposed cycleways at http://cycleenfield.co.uk/route-map/. Libby Martin