Welland Valley Route Market Harborough to Peterborough feasibility study Draft March 2014 Table of contents Executive Summary 1 Introduction and Background Sustrans makes smarter travel choices possible, desirable and inevitable. We’re 2 Route Description a leading UK charity enabling people to travel by foot, bike or public transport for 3 Alternative Route more of the journeys we make every day. We work with families, communities, policy- 4 Route Design makers and partner organisations so that people are able to choose healthier, cleaner 5 Ecology and cheaper journeys, with better places 6 Summary and spaces to move through and live in. It’s time we all began making smarter travel choices. Make your move and support Appendix A – Land Ownership Sustrans today. www.sustrans.org.uk Head Office Sustrans 2 Cathedral Square College Green Bristol - Binding Margin - BS1 5DD Registered Charity No. 326550 (England and Wales) SC039263 (Scotland) VAT Registration No. 416740656 Contains map data (c) www.openstreetmap.org (and) contributors, licence CC-BY-SA (www.creativecommons.org) REPORT INTENDED TO BE PRINTED IN FULL COLOUR ON A3 SIZE PAPER Page 2 l Welland Valley Route, Market Harborough to Peterborough Feasibility Study Welland Valley Railway Path Exisinting National Cycle Network minor road routes Executive summary the key constraint along most of the route. The exception to this is where the line of the railway This report represents the findings of a study to has been broken by the removal of bridges at examine proposals to introduce a cycle route crossing points of roads or water courses. A along the line of the former London Midland final physical constraint (two locations) occurs Scottish Railway from Market Harborough to where the track bed under road bridges has Peterborough. been blocked. Where physical barriers exist along the route the financial cost of providing The aim of the report is to assess the former Morcott replacement bridges or ramps becomes a major Barrowden railway route and consider the options at various Uppingham constraint. locations to provide a cycle path on the route linking the communities along the way. The King’s Cliffe Whilst the number of points at which the study focuses on the former railway alignment Peterborough former railway is crossed by roads introduces Nassington as it leaves the existing live railway to the North a constraint in terms of providing a continuous Gretton East of Market Harborough Station travelling Great Easton cycle route it also provides an ideal opportunity east through a number of local communities to develop a staged approach to developing in Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and an off road cycle route with an on road route Rutland before reaching the western edge of Corby signed on problematic sections. The number of Peterborough at Yarwell. adjacent quiet roads also provide ready links to Scale neighbouring communities. Market The former Railway links with NCN64 to the Harborough 5 miles North East of Market Harborough forming a link into the centre of the town via quite roads. At the Yarwell end of the former railway the route 1. Introduction and Background Binding Margin - - has the potential to link with the Nene Valley Disused railways that are mainly intact offer Heritage Railway, the nearest section of NCN is will need to leave the trackbed to ramp down to the opportunity to create routes for walkers, The 5 key national transport goals and how the further East at Castor. new road crossings where bridges are missing. cyclists and horseriders that are away from Lias Line can help achieve them: Access points will also need to be created to traffic in quiet peaceful surroundings. Sustrans This report identifies the technical issues and enable local people to use the route, but the 1 Supporting Economic Growth: This scheme has created a number of such routes over the practicalities of constructing a cycle path along exact locations of these would be a matter for will improve local connectivity, thereby past 30 years and in 2010 the National Cycle the former railway. the detailed design of the scheme. improving the chances that local demand for Network celebrated its 15th year. employment, shops and services can be met by The report is split into four main sections: local supply. Sustrans are undertaking a feasibility study for National Government Policy Context • Introduction and background the creation of a new multi user path through National government is committed to increasing 2 Tackle Climate Change: Contribute to • The National Cycle Network and the local area the Welland Valley along the line of the former rates of walking and cycling because of the reducing greenhouse gas emissions by • Detailed Route Sections London Midland and Scottish Railway. This will contributions that can be made to achieving a providing walking and cycling alternatives to the primarily follow the route of the former railway • Alternative route and route design wider range of objectives. car. The UK Climate Change Act commits the between National Grid Reference SP 743 895 • Ecology UK to reductions in CO2 emissions of at least and TL 084 974. The new path will be is 40km 26% by 2020 and a long term goal of 80% by • Summary in length and will run from Langton Road in National Policy: 2050 compared to 1990 levels. Great Bowden and Elton Road in Yarwell. It is LTP3 Guidance (DfT, 2008) At the end of the report it is noted that most anticipated that for the majority of the route the When local authorities replaced their existing 3 Promote equality of opportunity: The scheme of the former railway track bed would be path will be situated on the former track bed. transport plans in 2011 consideration was given will enhance social inclusion by improving straightforward (in terms of construction) to There are locations where bridges will need to to how they will contribute to the delivery of key access to employment, services and social transform into a cycle path. Land ownership is be constructed over watercourses, or the route national transport goals. Page 3 l Welland Valley Route, Market Harborough to Peterborough Feasibility Study networks – particularly for low socioeconomic cyclists, along with utility routes through built up • Economic – Tourism brings obvious benefits The former Railway line also crosses the road groups and those without access to cars. areas and routes linking small rural settlements to the local economy with people requiring network at 22 locations as it heads east. The to each other. refreshments in local pubs and shops. majority of the crossing points are of minor 4 Contribute to better safety, security and Longer distance travellers will also seek roads but the route also crosses the very busy health: Well used routes are self-policing (to an From its earliest days the NCN was intended accommodation. Harborough Bypass and the A43. In both cases extent), and can improve the perceived safety of to be a catalyst to local authorities to stimulate only expensive bridges could provide suitable • Health – There are clear and demonstrable an area. The scheme will encourage increased them into creating their own local networks crossing for cyclists and therefore alternative benefits to health from more physical activity. physical activity and improve the health of the of walking and cycling routes, and to this day routes have been looked into avoiding these Safe well maintained and signed routes local population. it strives to set the standard for the quality of major roads. The minor road crossings however provide the facilities for people to get more facilities for cyclists and walkers that all routes provide opportunities to develop any route in 5 Improving quality of life: Providing attractive exercise especially with young families. should aspire to. Phases depending on available funding and walking and cycling routes will provide more • Natural Environment – Such routes are of land agreements with quite on road sections opportunities for social interaction, improve With obesity, global warming, traffic congestion, benefit to the natural environment as their providing links in-between. access to local facilities and connect the urban the economy and the need to create stronger creation and maintenance encourages landscape with green spaces, all without any communities hitting the headlines every day, biodiversity that is often lost when the negative impact on the environment. walking and cycling are more necessary than landscape is left to overgrow. The industrial ever so Sustrans vision for the NCN is to make it history of the landscape is also revealed by the 2. Route Description National Cycle Network and ever more relevant to people’s lives. This means creation of railway paths and cycle routes. The route of the former railway has been divided continuing to extend it and take it to the places into sections marked by where roads are the local area • Employment – New businesses and job that people want to go, continuing to strive crossed. In the majority of cases the crossing opportunities are often a result of successful The National Cycle Network (NCN) is the UK’s for the highest quality routes possible, and would be at grade. Where the road is unsuitable new routes as there is an increased demand national transport network aimed specifically continuing to encourage more people than ever for an at grade crossing this has been noted. for local facilities, cycle hire, etc. at providing safe, high quality routes for people to use it. Where cyclists crossing