*PART 1 – PUBLIC DOCUMENT AGENDA ITEM No. 11

TITLE OF REPORT: WILBURY WAY TO HITCHIN TOWN CENTRE CYCLING IMPROVEMENTS

REPORT OF THE PROGRAMMES & STRATEGY MANAGER (COUNTYWIDE CYCLING)

1. PURPOSE OF REPORT

1.1 To inform the panel of the recommendations of the study to improve the route between Wilbury Way and Hitchin Town Centre.

2. BACKGROUND

2.1 A study was commissioned by Hertfordshire Highways in April 2010 to investigate improvements for cyclists at the junction Cadwell Lane/Grove Road/ Wilbury Way/ Woolgrove Road. The study was also extended on members request to include the route into Hitchin Town Centre. The study was funded using a planning contribution from a development in Wilbury Way for this purpose.

3. PROGRESS

3.1 The study has recently been finalised and concluded the following:

3.1.1 Advanced Stop Lines for cyclists at the Cadwell Lane/Grove Road/ Wilbury Way/ Woolgrove Road junction are not feasible unless the capacity of the junction is significantly reduced by removing traffic lanes, or existing footway widths be narrowed below 1.8 metres to enable the required cycle feeder lanes to the advanced stop lines to be provided. Therefore it is not recommended that they are pursued further.

3.1.2 Improvements to assist on carriageway cycling be made on Grove Road into the Town Centre via Nightingale Road and Bancroft as this is the most direct route and used by a number of cyclists currently. Due to the geometry of the road on this route the scope for improvements that could be made is limited. It was recommended to improve the street lighting on Grove Road particularly under the railway bridge and this has been incorporated into the street lighting refurbishment works in the current financial year. The report also recommended the internal diameter of the roundabout at the junction of Bancroft and Ickleford Road be made larger using road marking to improve conditions for cyclists. It is recommended these works are combined with future maintenance works.

NHHP – JMP (31.1.11) 3.1.3 Cycle Parking Improvements – Improved cycle parking was recommended at a number of sites in the town centre. It was investigated if the remaining S106 contribution could be used to implement these improvements, however, given the detailed description that the contribution should be used at the Cadwell Lane/Grove Road/ Wilbury Way/ Woolgrove Road junction it was not deemed appropriate. Therefore these cycle parking improvements in the town centre are being funded via the LTP cycling target in the current financial year.

3.1.4 The main recommendation was to improve the pedestrian crossing facilities at the Cadwell Lane/Grove Road/ Wilbury Way/ Woolgrove junction by introducing a pedestrian phase in the traffic signals and optimising traffic flows. This finding also fits well with the proposal in the draft Urban Transport Plan to improve the pedestrian environment in this area. It should be noted that the introduction of a pedestrian phase would still result in some increased queuing on all approaches to the junction; however, the modelling undertaken concluded that queues would clear on each arm during the green period under existing traffic flows. The cost of implementing this pedestrian upgrade has been estimated between £80,000 and £100,000. Currently this level of funding is not available to undertake these works. It is recommended that this improvement is considered when the traffic signals at the junction are next refurbished and further funding opportunities are investigated by officers.

4. FINANCIAL & HUMAN RESOURCE IMPLICATIONS

4.1 Further opportunities will be investigated to fund the improvements for pedestrians at the junction of Cadwell Lane/Grove Road/ Wilbury Way/ Woolgrove Road. The remaining planning contribution from Wilbury Way that expired in October 2010 will be refunded to the developer. Further details are set out in Area Development Control Managers report on Section 106 contributions.

5. LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

5.1 None.

6. CONSULTATION WITH EXTERNAL ORGANISATIONS AND WARD MEMBERS

6.1 Via the Joint Member Panel.

7. RECOMMENDATIONS

7.1 That the Panel notes the progress and outcome of the study and proposed future development of the project.

8. REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS

8.1 To ensure that Members are aware of the outcome of the study to improve cycling between Wilbury Way and Hitchin Town Centre.

NHHP – JMP (31.1.11) 9. APPENDICES

9.1 None.

10. CONTACT OFFICERS

10.1 David Burt, Programmes & Strategy Manager (Countywide Cycling), Hertfordshire Highways.

11. BACKGROUND PAPERS

11.1 Countywide Cycling Programme, Cadwell Lane Junction Study & Wilbury Way to Town Centre Link Stage 1 Feasibility Report

NHHP – JMP (31.1.11)