Foreword Cycling has increased in popularity Pendle Council’s first Cycling Strategy throughout the UK since Team was adopted in 2000 and revised in 2006 GB’s cycling successes in the 2008 and 2011. and 2012 Olympics. Names like Sir Bradley Wiggins and Sir Chris Hoy With the success of the Tour of Britain are renowned. And we have our own Stage Two, Clitheroe to Colne last year, Olympic gold medal cycle champion this revised strategy seeks to build on the Steven Burke on our doorstep to lead achievements of the earlier strategies and the way. the dynamics of hosting Stage Two of the Tour of Britain Cycle Race in September With this increase in popularity and new 2015. national and local agendas aimed at increasing sustainable modes of travel Our aim is to get everyone excited about and to improve the health and well- cycling at whatever level they choose: for being of local communities now is a very health, fitness, leisure, competitive sport important and exciting time for cycling. or simply as spectators. Cycling is an accessible, healthy and This Strategy is informed by the latest sustainable transport activity that can national, regional and local strategies contribute to reducing traffic volumes, as well as building on the Tour of Britain take care of the environment as well as Legacy. It includes an Action Plan that improve peoples’ health and wellbeing meets local needs whilst contributing to national and regional targets. ONE What is this strategy? This strategy focuses on improving and eventually across Lancashire as part the physical infrastructure for cycling of the Lancashire’s Cycling and Walking with the ultimate aim of increasing Investment Strategy. the number of cyclists for leisure, cycling to school, college and to the The canal towpath and network of quiet workplace. roads and bridleways make Pendle a perfect place for cycling both for the This will cut down on traffic and beginner and the expert with challenging congestion and reduce greenhouse gas hills to climb. And we have the Steven emissions in the longer term. Increased Burke Sports Hub as a base for cycling in number of cyclists will also help towards Pendle increased health and well-being leading to healthier active lifestyles. With some out of the box thinking and by completing missing links across Pendle Due to the lack of resources available to with connections to other paths across us, both capital and revenue, we have Lancashire and into Yorkshire we could to work hard with partners and seek create a fantastic cycle county. Across external funding to put the strategy into Lancashire and into our Yorkshire borders action. We’ll work alongside a number of we have everything there is to offer for partners, for example, those delivering cycling - hills, canal towpath, sea and health strategies, Pennine Events, mountain biking Pendle Leisure Trust as well as cycle clubs and cycle providers and officers Finally, we aim to embrace the across Pendle Council departments enthusiasm for cycling following the Tour including: Engineering, Tourism, of Britain Stage Two and build an event or Parks, Regeneration, Planning and a series of events to keep people excited Communications. about cycling in Pendle. We are working on missing links to create one network of routes across Pendle, Pendle’s Cycle Network Plan (Appendix 2) TWO Our vision • To improve the physical infrastructure for cycling in Pendle and work with partners to encourage and enable a diverse range of cycling in Pendle and double cycling levels. We aim to do this by 2025 in line with new National Walking and Cycling Investment Strategy. • For Pendle to be a healthier and more prosperous place offering all its residents and visitors a higher quality of life, in line with the new National Walking and Cycling Investment Strategy • For cycling to be a mainstream activity and for Pendle to have a national reputation for cycle sport and cycle tourism along with the rest of Lancashire. The schemes set out in the table at Appendix 1, together with the actions and outcomes outlined in the Action Plan will help us to turn our vision into reality. THREE 1. STRONG SERVICES: working with • Cycling is becoming increasingly partners and the community to sustain important as a tourism activity. services of good value. Revenue from cycle tourists and local leisure cyclists can contribute to the 2. STRONG ECONOMY: helping to create local economy. Supporting our cycle and sustain jobs with strong economic trade in Pendle is important with local and housing growth business Hope Technology leading the Pendle way in cycle technology 3. STRONG COMMUNITIES: ensuring a clean, healthier, safer and cohesive • Other local cycle businesses in Pendle. Pendle include: Ossies Bikes in Nelson, Wicked Bikez in Colne and Why is cycling important Bruffy’s Bikes in Barnoldswick with Carradice making bike panniers for Cycling can make a positive contribution an international clientele and Pendle Pendle in East Lancashire has a The industrial changes during the second to the local community and is important Bike Racks providing quality cycling th population of approximately 89,450 and half of the 20 century left significant in achieving our above objectives for the merchandise. is an area of great contrasts. socio-economic issues for the former following reasons: textile mill towns in the borough with low Pendle has loads to offer with beautiful On the one hand it has some of the most skill levels, worklessness, poor quality • People who don’t own a car can scenery and challenging hill climbs as well beautiful countryside in the north and is housing, significant health inequality access employment and services by as a safe closed road circuit with the flat dominated by the legendary Pendle Hill, problems and high concentrations of bike. It is cheaper than going by bus tow path leading off it, there is something famous for its Pendle Witches of 1612. deprivation. In stark contrast to the former and is often quicker. for every cyclist here. Its rural borders and picturesque villages textile towns, 88% of Pendle’s land area is neighbour Yorkshire and Ribble Valley. green space. Whilst this provides the area • Encouraging people to leave their On the other hand, certain areas of some with an idyllic setting, it also ensures that cars at home for short journeys and of Pendle’s towns are ranked among the rural deprivation issues such as access to promoting cycling as a means of most deprived in the country. services and transport are important for transport is one way to improve air Pendle. quality and reduce greenhouse gases. Pendle’s community includes a 17.1% ethnic minority population, most of which Sustainable Community Strategy • Promoting utility and leisure cycling is of Pakistani heritage. We also have a will encourage people to be more growing Eastern European population. In order to address these issues Pendle active, to lead healthier lifestyles In 2015, based on the average Index of Council signed up to the vision of our and enhance physical and mental Multiple Deprivation figures, Pendle was Sustainable Community Strategy. We are wellbeing. ranked 38th out of 326 local authorities with committed to working with our partners 16 of its 57 areas in the top 10% of most to ensure that “Pendle is a place where • Cycling can help to reduce the impact deprived areas in the country. quality of life continues to improve and of traffic at a local level and investment where people respect one another and in cycling facilities can contribute to Pendle has lower life expectancy, higher their neighbourhoods. We want Pendle regeneration. infant mortality, higher childhood obesity to be a place where everyone aspires to and higher death rates from coronary reach their full potential. We want to be • Cycling is an accessible leisure heart disease than the national average. recognised locally, regionally and nationally activity and allows easy access to Pendle Council is working hand in hand as a great area to live, learn, work, play the countryside. More people cycle with Lancashire Public Health and the East and visit.” for leisure than for utility reasons but Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Group research suggests that encouraging to address these health inequalities. Three of our strategic objectives are leisure cycling can result in more relevant to this strategy: people taking up cycling in general. FOUR FIVE Progress in Pendle – a timeline 2000 2008 & 2010 2014 the event to ensure continuity and share Pendle Council has had a cycling strategy Improvements in Nelson town centre, We completed the Steven Burke Sports expertise.It will remain in the strategy as since the year 2000. The strategy enabled completed between 2008 and 2010, Hub cycle circuit with funding which was part of Pendle’s Cycle Festival. us to access external funding to provide included a cycle contraflow allowing secured via external funding bids to British and improve off road cycling facilities. The cycling back into the town centre. Cycling, Inspired Facilities (Sport England), 2015 provision of a capital budget at the time Lancashire Environmental Fund, Colne Pendle Council invested £150,000 in for the development of cycling in Pendle 2009/2010 and Nelson Area Committees with match the Tour of Britain Stage 2 on the 7th helped to lever in external funding. This The Barrowford Park and Colne Schools funding from Pendle Council and match September 2015 which inspired 67% of capital budget no longer exists. Link schemes were completed thanks funding in kind from Pendle Leisure Trust spectators to cycle more often. to £90,000 from LCC, Section 106 and Go Velo. The total invested in this 2002 - 2006 Monies, Sustrans Safe Routes to School, circuit was £570,399 and included doing 2003 – 2016 Working in partnership with other Barrowford and Western Parishes Area up the pavilion to create a space for cycle Pendle’s Cycle Festival continues including organisations around £550,000 was Committee and Nelson Area Committee.