National Cycle Network Route 135, Stock to Southend 2014
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Walking and Cycling improvements National Cycle Network Route 135, Stock to Southend Study on behalf of Rochford District Council, Essex County Council, Chelmsford City Council and Southend Borough Council September 2014 Walking and Cycling improvements - National Cycle Network Route 135, Stock to Southend • Study on behalf of Rochford District Council, Essex County Council, Chelmsford City Council and Southend Borough Council About Sustrans Table of contents Sustrans makes smarter travel choices possible, Purpose of this report 3 desirable and inevitable. We’re a leading UK charity enabling people to travel by foot, bike or public Geographical background 3 transport for more of the journeys we make every day. We work with families, communities, policy-makers Policy Context 6 and partner organisations so that people are able to choose healthier, cleaner and cheaper journeys, with The Route 8 better places and spaces to move through and live in. Delivering and Monitoring the It’s time we all began making smarter travel choices. improvements 27 Make your move and support Sustrans today. www.sustrans.org.uk Implementation Plan 28 Head Office Sustrans 2 Cathedral Square College Green Bristol BS1 5DD © Sustrans June 2014 Registered Charity No. 326550 (England and Wales) SC039263 (Scotland) VAT Registration No. 416740656 - Binding Margin - The findings in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of Essex County Council, Chelmsford City Council, Southend Borough Council and Rochford District Council Report prepared for Essex County Council, Southend Borough Council, Chelmsford Borough Council and Rochford District Council by Sustrans Written and surveyed by Kris Radley, Sustrans Area Manager, Greater Essex Purpose of this report Geographical Background The Rochford Local Highway Panel commissioned In transport planning terms, the area’s focus is very Sustrans to undertake this feasibility study as much on Hullbridge, Hockley, Hawkwell, Rochford, the development of a cycle route between Stock, London Southend Airport Environs and Southend as Rayleigh, Hockley and Southend fits many of the the main location of services and facilities, and major districts, counties and regions Strategic Objectives hubs for transport, providing connections to Essex, (see Section 2 for more information). London and the rest of the United Kingdom. It has long been Sustrans’ desire to see the creation of In 2009, Rochford had a population of 83,100 people a new stretch of National Cycle Network (NCN) to link (representing just under 6% of the total population Stock and Southend. This new stretch of route would of Essex), with 24,600 of those living in Hockley and be approximately 37 kilometres long (from NCN13 in Hawkwell. Stock to NCN16, City Beach, Southend Sea front) and would be numbered NCN 135. A number of potential Latest travel to work data from the Essex County link routes exist from the proposed NCN135 route Council Tracker survey shows that in Rochford around which acts as a spinal route to the wider community 71% of workers travel 30 minutes or less to work of Rochford District. These opportunities were not (Essex highest: 77% Harlow, Essex lowest: 58% developed beyond initial scoping in this study and a Castle Point). 92% of Rochford residents live within an more detailed cycle strategy is recommended. hour’s commute of their work. Of all the routes Sustrans wishes to see created in The number of residents living in the district who are the East of England, it is fair to say that this particular aged 65 and over is expected to increase from 16,400 stretch of NCN has garnered the most interest, and people to over 27,300. This takes the proportion of this has only intensified as a new national focus on people in this age bracket from 19.7% of the districts cycling has gained momentum. population to over a quarter of the residents by 2035. The distance between some of the main areas of habitation on the route and existing and future hubs - Binding Margin - of employment is eminently suitable for regular cycle-commuting and walking. Linking Chelmsford City (which is already well connected in the National Cycle Network) with Rochford District and Southend (which is also well connected in the National Cycle Network) will also increase the opportunities for both recreational cycling and cycle tourism. There is much interest in recreational cycling locally, witnessed by Southend having its own thriving cycling club, and by the growing success of local cycle shops, whilst increased opportunities for cycle tourism fits very well with other local initiatives, such as the excellent “The Cake Escape” and “Bike Friendly Cafes” (initiatives in Southend and Essex marketing local cafes as being ‘cyclist friendly’). This report also sets out estimates for the various costs associated with the development of the link and it discusses the possibility of delivering the works in phases, to suit possible sources of funding. Page 3 Walking and Cycling improvements - National Cycle Network Route 135, Stock to Southend Study on behalf of Rochford District Council, Essex County Council, Chelmsford City Council and Southend Borough Council • - Binding Margin - Page 4 Walking and Cycling improvements - National Cycle Network Route 135, Stock to Southend Study on behalf of Rochford District Council, Essex County Council, Chelmsford City Council and Southend Borough Council • - Binding Margin - Page 5 Walking and Cycling improvements - National Cycle Network Route 135, Stock to Southend • Study on behalf of Rochford District Council, Essex County Council, Chelmsford City Council and Southend Borough Council Policy Context Introduction Developing new routes to add to the National Enabling people to cycle and walk more will tackle five Transport Priorities Local Centres (Benfleet, Billericay, Canvey, Hadleigh, critical challenges: Rayleigh, Rochford, Wickford) Cycle Network meets many objectives at national, Using a combination of the evidence base compiled in regional and local level. This section of the report support of the Essex Transport strategy, evidence from • Providing for and promoting access by sustainable brings together key policies and plans to which the • Obesity and related health conditions – enabling the individual district/borough Core Strategies, and the modes of transport to development areas development of a route linking Stock and Southend people to be more physically active for findings from stakeholder and public consultations, aligns perfectly, and it opens with Sustrans’ own everyday journeys (like cycling to school or Essex County Council have determined a list of key • Improving the attractiveness and usability of narrative on the need for the National Cycle Network. walking to the shops) will transform the health priorities. streets and public spaces to support regeneration of adults and children throughout the UK. • Providing travel planning services aimed at Sustrans’ ‘National Cycle Network Priorities for Thames Gateway Strategy 2009-2013’ • Climate change – personal car use is responsible improving awareness of travel choices for 13% of total carbon dioxide (CO2) • Providing for and promoting access by sustainable In the UK we are travelling further and faster than ever emissions in the UK. Enabling people to leave modes of travel to new development areas; • Improving journey time reliability before. We are also using our cars more, often for their car behind for many of the 58% of car on congested routes short journeys that could be walked or cycled. The journeys that are less than 5 miles (and longer • Improving the attractiveness and ease of use National Cycle Network provides alternative routes journeys as a result of better integration of of public spaces to support regeneration • Improving access to green spaces to car travel for many everyday journeys. As climate travel) will make an important contribution to change emissions from car travel continue to rise and achieving the UK’s CO2 reduction targets. • Improving public transport links within Rochford Core Strategy obesity from lack of physical activity rises in epidemic and between the Thames Gateway proportions, alternatives have never been more • Energy security – as oil becomes more expensive, towns (including the A13 Passenger A number of the Rochford Core Strategy “Key necessary. and as the UK seeks to de-carbonise the energy Transport Corridor and sert schemes); Priorities” and “Policies” also align perfectly with the used in our homes, hospitals, schools and development of the route: As governments of the UK search for policies that other essential places, enabling people to travel • Improving journey time reliability on lead to a sustainable transport system the National in the most energy efficient way possible for strategic inter-urban routes including The Council are preparing a collection of different Cycle Network provides an exemplar for the creation short, local journeys will increase our economic the A127, A129, A130 and the A13; documents known as the Local Development of environments that enable people to walk and cycle resilience in the face of rising energy prices. Framework or LDF/Core Strategy, which will set out for their everyday local journeys. Catalysed by UK • Improving the availability of sustainable travel how the District will develop in the future. The LDF will legislation for statutory reduction in climate change • Congestion – Car traffic has increased some 15% choices and raising public awareness of gradually