Ouse Valley Cycle Network (OVCN)
Southease to Newhaven section
A way forward
Piddinghoe Parish Council
18th September 2015 (Rev2)
1 First, it is important to understand that the current Parish Council of Piddinghoe is not against the Egrets Way per se. We feel that generally it is a laudable project. However, PPC was elected on a platform of not having the Egrets Way forced upon the village using ” The Street” , the only road through Piddinghoe. It is an entirely unsuitable route. OVCN remit: It is also clear that the route proposed along the west bank of the River Ouse from Southease to Piddinghoe is particularly fraught with serious safety problems and in particular where the C7 road enters Piddinghoe as there are physical restrictions which prevent the construction of a safe To provide a safe, passage. The road through Piddinghoe is also entirely unsuitable for a cycle way or multi user path. traffic free, It is clearly the wrong route. But there is a suitable route. As an elected body we can see no good reason riverside route along for the reluctance of the OVCN and some of its supporters to, at the very least, consider the merits of this route. the Ouse Valley. it is unfortunate that the previous Parish Council did not deliberate in a more considered manner the ramifications of an ill-judged, hasty decision which many in the community feel was made in self-interest rather than the greater good. The current Parish Council sincerely wishes to help resolve this problem and How do we achieve work with the OVCN to find a solution to the satisfaction of all interested parties. However, it is not prepared to do so at the expense of the well- that at Piddinghoe? being of the residents of our much loved village. There has been too much acrimony in this once peaceful and very harmonious community. Sadly some residents have even considered leaving the village due to the ill- feeling generated by this project. We are becoming increasingly concerned about the well-being of the village. We note that the two statutory purposes of the National Park are: 1. To conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of their areas; 2. To promote opportunities for the public understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of their areas. If there is a conflict between these two purposes, conservation takes precedence. There is also a duty to foster the economic and social well- being of the local community in pursuit of these purposes. The planned route for the Egrets Way to pass right through Piddinghoe and it’s impact on the village directly opposes the above.
2 3 OVCN planned west route from Southease alongside River Ouse C7
Walkers, wheelchair users, mobility scooters, cyclists and horse riders to share this section of the C7 C7 Exit onto C7 could lter users away from the Harping Hill “alternative” route and along the C7
A26
Piddinghoe Trees under Piddinghoe threat of removal Pond and replaced with pig fence
Planned OVCN route South Heighton OVCN planned west route through Piddinghoe village
Denton
C7 “Alternative” route over Harping Hill A259 (Not suitable for the disabled, elderley, pushchairs etc)
C7 Piddinghoe Newhaven
Figure 1. Figure 2. General map indicating the proposed Egrets Way route alongside the C7 where it Map indicating the proposed Egrets Way route from Southease where it exits onto exits the riverside at Deans Farm, going through Piddinghoe and along the farm/ the C7 at Deans Farm. sailing club path and car park as on the planing application. The hatched route is an indication of how it could link up with the existing Newhaven to Seaford cycle path.
4 5 Pinch point area
Blind bends Riverbanks Riverbanks Piddinghoe Conservation Area
Area refused access to OVCN by landowners Piddinghoe Conservation Area Kiln Cottage
Kiln Cottage The Lair Lair The
The Lair Lair The Kiln Kiln OVCN planned route Headlands Headlands Cattle Grid The The River Cattle Grid River 13.8m House 13.8m House Harping Hill House Harping Harping Hill Hill Harping Hill House Riverside Riverside Broadview Cottage Broadview Cottage
River Ouse River Ouse The The The Magnolias The Magnolias Wharf Wharf
Club Slipway
Club Slipway Saltings Saltings Saltings
C7 Old C7 Old St John's Cottage Cottage St John's
Church
he Old
yt Church he Old
Bl Bl ch
yt School
Bl Bl ch School
Chur
Cottage Cottage Chur
Cottage Cottage Cottages Cottages Justins Justins 1
1
hn's hn's
o 2
hn's hn's
o 2
J St
J St Cottage Old Vicarage Tennis Cottage Old Vicarage Tennis Court Court High High
Barn
Barn Atherfield Atherfield Atherfield
Court st Office
Court o st Office South
o Farm P
South P The Old
Farm The Old Gr
les les
Gr Chamb
les les Chamb een
een 8
COUR 8 8 ARM The COUR The F
FARM
7 7 CL Dormer 7 7 CL Dormer House
House T
T
1 1 The Hoe The Hoe ARM CL ARM CL 6 T F Village Green 6 T F Village Green COUR Hall COUR Hall
Glebe Glebe 2
2 Cottage Cottage 1
1 1 4 Grazing/Horses 4 Courthouse Farm Purnell Courthouse Farm Purnell The Royal Oak Cottages The Royal Oak Cottages
Oak 4
4 4 Oak 10 Cottages 10 Cottages
7
7 1 1 1
12 12
12 12 11 11
Malthouse 11 The Old Forge Malthouse The Old Forge 14
14 14 15
15
l l Mil
l l Mil
tage tage Cot tage tage
Rose Cot Rose Cottage Hunters Trenchards Cottage Hunters Trenchards Moon Moon
Jasmine Jasmine
Cottage Cottage
20 20
1 1 BR 20 20 1 1 BR OOKSIDE
OOKSIDE
WELL 4 WELL 4 AR AR CED
CED CL
CL
5 5 5 5
3 6 3 6 Allotments Allotments Hunters End Hunters End
1 Grazing/Horses 1 Midwynde Midwynde
Rosedene The White Rosedene The White
OSE OSE CL SHEPHERDS OSE OSE
SHEPHERDS CL SHEPHERDS Cottage Cottage
Or
Or
End End
End End char
char
d d d d Sailing Sailing Byways Club Byways Club Ladacre Stables Ladacre Stables
Honey Hill Honey Hill
Car park Car park Highbanks Highbanks
Little Little
Figure 3. Figure 4. Detail map indicating the planned route and its main dangerous/problematic Map indicating the total area refused access to OVCN by landowners in locations. The Pinch point area is of particular concern as there is no room for a Piddinghoe. path. This route does not meet the OVCN’s remit of providing a “safe, traffic free, Note that Piddinghoe had a bypass built in 1923 to keep traffic out of the village. riverside path”!
6 7 Pinch point area
Blind bends 1 2 Riverbanks
Piddinghoe Conservation Area
Kiln Cottage The Lair Lair The 8 Kiln OVCN planned route Headlands
The Cattle Grid River 13.8m House
Harping Hill Harping Hill House Riverside Broadview Cottage
River Ouse The Magnolias The 9 Wharf 3 4
Club Slipway 7 Saltings C7 Old Cottage St John's
Church
he Old yt
Bl Bl 10 ch School
Chur Cottage Cottage Cottages Justins
1
hn's hn's
o 2 J St St 6 Cottage Old Vicarage Tennis Court High
Barn Atherfield Atherfield
Court st Office
o South P Farm The Old
Gr les les Chamb
een 8 8
COUR The
5FARM 7 7 CL Dormer House
T
1 The Hoe ARM CL 6 T F Village Green COUR Hall
Glebe 2
4 Cottage 5 6 1 1 Courthouse Farm 4 Purnell Cottages The Royal Oak
Oak 4 Cottages 10
7
1 1 3 12 12
The Old Forge Malthouse 11 14 14
15
l l Mil tage tage
Rose Cot Trenchards Cottage Hunters Moon
Jasmine
Cottage
20 20 1 1 BR
2 OOKSIDE ARWELL 4
CED
CL 5 5
3 6 1 Allotments Hunters End
1 Midwynde
Rosedene The White OSE OSE SHEPHERDS CL SHEPHERDS Cottage
Or 7 8
End End
char d d Sailing Byways Club Ladacre Stables
Honey Hill
Car park Highbanks
Little
Figure 5. Detail map indicating the planned route and its main dangerous/problematic locations with reference pictures of the narrow road (The Street) and it’s blind bends through the village. Picture 9 shows a typical example of a vehicle cutting the corner at the blind crest as the C7 approaches the turn into Piddinghoe. 9 10
8 9 C7 C7 50 50
A26 A26
Piddinghoe Piddinghoe
Piddinghoe Piddinghoe Pond Pond
South Heighton South Heighton
A
30 Denton 30 Denton
C7 C7 30 30 40 A259 40 A259
Newhaven Newhaven
Figure 6. Figure 7. Map indicating the Egrets Way route if on the east side of the river Ouse. Map indicating both the East and west side routes for comparison. A railway crossing exists (point A). This could be upgraded, as at Bishopstone, or perhaps Network Rail may see it as an opportunity to build a bridge. We understand that funding could be available for this. This route provides easy access for residents of Denton and South Heighton. The hatched part of the route indicates how it could link up with the existing Newhaven to Seaford cycle path.
10 11 C7 B 50
A26 Egrets Way Piddinghoe
Piddinghoe A Pond
South Heighton Existing path A B River Ouse New footbridge
30 Denton
C7 30 40 A259 C Rodmell
Newhaven C7
Figure 8. Figure 9. What would happen if funding could be found, or may exist (Veolia, SDNP etc?), At Rodmell the distance between point A and B at the Egrets Way is 0.8 mile. for a new footbridge linking the Egrets Way from the east side to the Riverside Park in Newhaven on the west side. Surely a wonderful asset and a huge opportunity to help enhance the area and focus on the new development at Riverside Park. This route would also be more convenient for the residents of South Heighton and Denton. The distance from Piddinghoe (Point A) to the Egrets Way (point B) is 0.6 mile. From point B to point C is 0.7 mile.
12 13 Riverbanks
Piddinghoe Conservation Area
Kiln Cottage
OVCN planned route The Lair Lair The Kiln
Headlands
The Alternative route continuing on C7 Cattle Grid River 13.8m House utilising existing footpath Harping Hill Harping Hill YHA House Riverside Cafe, Toilets Broadview Cottage River Ouse The Magnolias The Egrets Way & Accommodation Bus Wharf (Existing) stop
Club Slipway Saltings Saltings
C7 Old Cottage St John's
Church
he Old
yt
Bl Bl ch School
Chur Cottage Cottage Cottages Justins
1
hn's hn's
o 2 J Southease St Cottage Old Vicarage Tennis Court High
Barn Station Atherfield
Court st Office
o South P Farm The Old
Gr les les Chamb
een 8 8
COUR The
FARM 7 7 CL Dormer House
T
1 The Hoe Southease ARM CL 6 T F Village Green Hall Bridge COUR Glebe 2
Cottage 1 1 Courthouse Farm 4 Purnell Southdowns Way Cottages The Royal Oak
Oak 4 Cottages 10
7 1 1 12 12
The Old Forge Malthouse 11 14 14
15
l l Mil tage tage Southdowns Rose Cot Trenchards Cottage Hunters Moon
Jasmine
Way Cottage
20 20 1 1 BR
OOKSIDE ARWELL 4
CED
CL 5 5
3 6 Allotments Hunters End A26
1 Midwynde
Rosedene The White
OSE OSE
SHEPHERDS CL SHEPHERDS Cottage
River Ouse River
Or
End End
char d d Sailing Byways Club Ladacre Stables
Honey Hill
Car park Highbanks
Little
Figure 10. Figure 11. The benefits of the Egrets Way running on the east side of the river at Southease An alternative route along the C7 utilising the existing footpath. There is also are clear with facilities and refreshments along with easy access to public transport potentially room for development. Again though, this does not meet the OVCN’s links if required. remit of providing a “safe, traffic free, riverside path”.
14 15 Appendix 1
Environment Agency comment: Dear Villagers, At a recent meeting with the Environment Agency team working on the river bank reinforcements and PPC, it was asked if the work was anything to do with We are seeking your views on the various proposals for the Egret’s Way Cycle Route Egrets Way. They confirmed it wasn’t but their unsolicited comment was that they at Piddinghoe. This Lower Ouse project is well underway and if you have a view, now couldn’t understand why the Egret’s Way wasn’t routed across Southease bridge and down the east side of the river Ouse, as it would be far easier to construct, is the time! there were fewer landowners to deal with, fewer physical obstructions and less Please mark in your order of preference the routes in each section. There is a prone to flooding. Practical advice from those with knowledge. comment box at the bottom. The proposed routes are in three main sections with details and comments on the following pages. Example of safety fear of routing the Egrets Way along the C7: ! A cycle path in Brighton where a teacher died poses a safety risk because it is not wide enough, a report commissioned by her family has found. Section 1 Jo Walters, 28, was killed in 2010 after swerving to avoid another cyclist on the A270 Lewes Road. Her family set up the Jo Walters Trust and commissioned a report into the safety of cycling in the city. Routes from Chapel Farm or Riverside Farm to the Lewes end of the village. The accident happened in June 2010, as Ms Walters was cycling along the 1.9 metre-wide cycle path towards the university campuses in Falmer. She swerved A) B) C) D) E) to avoid a cyclist, but lost control and went into the road in front of an oncoming truck. BBC News Section 2 Routes through or outside the village itself. P) Q) R) Falmer to Woodingdean path The Sussex Express reported that the numbers of users of the recently opened ! Falmer to Woodingdean path was averaging at approximately 1200 users per week. Section 3 Imagine the impact on Piddinghoe with just half that number! Routes out of the village V) W) X) Y) Z) "
Please fill in your details and add your comments here. "
name address
Signature and date
Return this page to the Chair, PPC c/o the White Cottage with your details. Your votes count!" ! ! Because of private land owners refusing permission there is no way to exit the village to Newhaven except round the Hoe which is also likely to be strongly opposed or by returning to the C7 via the bus route. There are also private land issues for the section from Riverside Farm to opposite the Quarry house north end of the village. The Quarry house has offered to have the cycle route on their land." !
16 17 Appendix 1 Appendix 1
! Along the C7 on the cleared and widened pavement past the bus stop from Harping Section 1 Chapel or Riverside Farm to the Lewes end of village. Hill, by - passing the village until the Newhaven entrance or beyond. A) From Riverside Farm across the C7 up the existing bridle path at Chapel Farm, Pros: the path to Newhaven and bus stop will be safer. The heart of the village and street along and down Harping Hill onto the C7 opposite the Lewes end of the village itself will be by-passed by most cyclists. turning along to the bus stop area before crossing to make a safer crossing and bus Cons: the cyclists will lose the continuity of the riverside side proposal and need a stop area. crossing point at Riverside Farm and another further down to get back onto the river path. Pros: Crossings would be needed calming the trafÞc. Scenic route. ! Cons: It involves a hill section for cyclists so only serious cyclists will use it. Q) From the Lewes entrance through the street of the village and out round the Hoe ! or via the bus route." B) There is no way of exiting the village except via the bus route back onto the C7 or round the Hoe. Along the C7 from Riverside Farm to the Lewes entrance of the village on the main Villagers have not given permission for their private land to be used at the sailing boat road, river path or allotments and Þelds to the South of the village.! road as it is at the moment. ! ! C) The Cycle path designed and intended route. Along the C7 with a cycle path R) On the opposite side of the river. built on the river side of the road." ! ! ! Pros: no crossing of the C7 for cyclists or pedestrians needed.! Section 3 From the Newhaven end of the Village to Newhaven and beyond Cons: The space will be shared space for cyclists, pedestrians, cars and lorries.! ! W The road will be moved over costing £250,000 - £300,000. ! ) Continue down the improved C7 cycle path/pavement all the way to Newhaven. The cycle path design goes on private land which is not available. Pros: A decent path and safe bus stop at last. Cons: no longer a River Trail. The road itself will be similar to now so trafÞc calming may not work. The alterations will take both verges. ! ! X Sustrans have already done a study for the planners of the cycle route going across ) Cross back over the C7 even further down and meet the river path. private land until the pinch point and the highways have approved it in principal but Cons: It is not clear where this might be done yet. the owners do not want it. ! ! Y) From the village street then around the edge of the Hoe. D) From Riverside Farm across the C7 along the hanging wood past the Quarry house.! Z) On the other side of the river from Southease." ! Pros: Maybe the easiest/cheapest option depending on the environment agency. Pros: The opposite verge stays in place. TrafÞc speed would have to be reduced for It may be possible to join up with the Seaford cycle path and cross the train tracks there. crossings. The road does not have to be moved. The quarry house have given permission. Cons: Short of a new cycle/pedestrian bridge across the river Piddinghoe loses all the The cycle path could continue past the bus stop or to the Newhaven end of the village other beneÞts as well as the cycle path. making a safer bus stop and path. ! Cons: the cyclists have to cross the C7 at the crossing points. The Sustrans design could cyclists bridge across the Ouse approx.£1 million. ( Þgures for Piddinghoe section so far - do this.! £600,000 plus £300,000) ! E) Across the river at Southease and along the riverbank. Pros: This could be the cheapest path and is completely separate from the trafÞc - a trafÞc free river trail. Cons: Piddinghoe misses out on decent path for pedestrians and cycle route towards Lewes. TrafÞc calming on the C7 is less likely. ! ! Section 2 The village area ! P) "
18 19 Appendix 2
20 21 22