Improvement of Cycle Routes in the Borough
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REPORT TO ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP - November 2015 Title: USING WBC S106 DEVELOPERS CONTRIBUTIONS TO SUPPORT THE DELIVERY OF TWO CYCLE SCHEME PROJECTS IN WATFORD AS IDENTIFIED IN THE SOUTH WEST HERTS CYCLE STUDY Purpose: To seek AMG support for the use of the funds for the projects Report of: Andy Smith Transport and lnfrastructure Section Head - Regeneration & Development Date: November 2015 Report: Number 1 1.0 Background The Council are holding around €195k of s106 Developers Contribution for the provision or improvement of cycle routes in the Borough. The allocations to support cycle route and infrastructure improvements have been identified from 38 separate s106 agreements being held. These are shown in (Appendix A). Many of the contributions collected, to support sustainable cycle infrastructure projects, are small amounts ranging from f206 upwards to f23,000. lndividually the sums are insufficient to deliver project but collectively the funds provide the basis for match funding projects in are'as within the vicinity of the original developers contributions. ln June 2012 the South West Herts Cycle study identified a number of cycling project both on road and off road for Watford. Herts County Council (the Highway Authority) and Watford Council have since 2012 been delivering a number of the projects identified. An opportunity has been presents to the Council to support two key cycle projects in the town using the s106 contributions we are currently holding. 2.0 Lower High Street Cycle Route: HCC are looking to construct a new cycle route between the town centre (High Street junction King Street) and Dalton Way. The project costs are estimated at e250k . The new route will link together existing parts of the cycle network improving linkages into the town centre from the south particularly. The works will allow a continuous cycle route along the north - south axis in the town centre via High Sheet and The Parade. lt will also link in with the recently completed cycle route works in Market Street. A key part ofthe project is a new toucan crossing across Exchange Road between the town centre and Watford High Street station. This will provide benefits now, and for future Metropolitan Line services. The new route also intersects with the National Cycle Network Route 6 / (61) between Watford and St Albans which is currently being re-branded and upgraded as the ABBEY WAY. 2.1 The table below sets out the source of the contributions in the area near to the Lower High Street cycle route project. Source of Receipt Cateqorv Proiect Ref Proiect Name 2013-14 Balance 173-175 Queens CYC cPT 01 055 TRO CYCLING f800 Road 103-1 1 1 Queens CYC cPT 01 064 CYCLING 813,617 Road 155-159 Queens CYC cPT 01 085 VICT PASS PH2 f.11 ,498 Road 2 Derby Road CYC None Derby Road f1,281 mbike store 91 Queens Road CYC None Cycle + m/cycle t8,197 parkinct Total f35,393 3.0 Abbey Way Cycle Route: National RoutiCytte Network Route 6 / 61 links St Albans with Watford, with onwards cycle connections to Ritkmansworth via the Ebury Way and the town centre via the soon to be completed Lower High Street cycle route. To further enhance its usage and encourage a switch from car to cycle for iome journ'eys the Borough Council in partnership with the County Council made a bid to Dlefra from theiiAir euality Capital Bid scheme. ln summary the project includes: !. Re-branding the route between watford and st Albans as the ABBEY WAY (completed) !. Production and print of a new route leaflet (completed Summer 2015) !. New branded signage throughout the route. ln Watford this will be from Riverside Park to the Borough boundary with St Albans l. Resurficing works in Oxhey Park and Munden Drive Open Space (completed) 3.1 The Abbey Way surfacing project was successful in receiving €30k from Defra with a further contribution oi €ZOk trom the iounty Council. The Defra/HCC surfacing works were completed in September 2015. HCC have produced the new leaflet for the route. What is outstanding to complete the scheme is the introduction of the new branded signing. HCC have committed a further €5k of funding towards this element of the project. 3.2 We are now seeking to use the s106 collected from agreements in the vicinity of the cycle route to fund the new branded signage along the route from Riverside park in oxhey to the Bgrough boundary with St Albans. 3.3 The table below sets out the source of the contributions in the area along the Abbey Way cycle route project Source of Receipt Cateqory Proiect Ref Proiect Name 2013-14 Balance 38 Cedar Road CYC cPT 01 079 Oxhey Park f 1,989 19 Blackwell CYC CPT 01 OB7 Oxhey Park f958 Drive 9-23 Devon Road CYC cPT 01 090 Abbey Flyer ph2 f3 Corner of Radlett CYC N/A Oxhey park 123,275 Road and Colonial Way 46 Greenwood CYC Cycling Cycling L97 1 Drive 43 Greenwood CYC N/A Cycling 8979 Drive Total f.2B,17 5 4.0 Project Plan and deliverY witn tn" funding support boln the Lower High Street and Abbey Way signage project can be delivered within this financial year. 5.0 Financial The projects can be delivered from the s106 Capital funds we are holding under Budget code wgzl o3 X9000. Current balance E1,427,107 The capital funds request to support the two cycle project is t63,658.00 6.0 Contact Details Andy Smith - Transport and lnfrastructure Section Head Ext 81 15 andy. sniith @waif ord. gov. uk.