OUSE VALLEY CYCLE NETWORK Safe shared sustainable village connections from County Town to Channel Port What the OVCN Project can offer the ESCC/SDNP bid for Local Sustainable Transport Funds 1 2 OVCN PROJECT CONTENTS SECTION PAGE COVER CONTENTS 3 STEERING GROUP MEMBERS 5 1. SUMMARY OF WHAT THE PROJECT OFFERS 7-8 2. SUPPORTING EVEIDENCE 2.1 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 9 2.2 PEOPLE AND PARTNER ENGAGEMENT 10 2.3 LANDOWNER CONSULTATION 11 2.4 SUPPORTING THE LOCAL ECONOMY 11-12 2.5 EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES 13-15 3. ATTACHMENTS 1. KINGSTON ROAD & CRANEDOWN RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION COMMUNITY SURVEY 2005 16-17 2. KIGNSTON VILLAGE RESIDENTS COMMUNITY SURVEY 2009 18-19 3. LINKLATER PAVILION MEETING CONSULTATION 20 4. HILLCREST COMMUNITY CENTRE MEETING CONSULTATION 21-22 4. SEPARATE ENCLOSURES 4.1 Sustrans FEASIBILITY STUDY 4.2 SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT, TOURISM AND ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS –A MESSAGE IN PICTURES. 3 4 OVCN STEERING GROUP MEMBERS Chair Neville Harrison Deputy Chair Andy Lock Secretary Susan Thompson Treasurer Jan Marshall San Barlow Wendy Brewer Jenny Leon Tom Lockyer Dinah Morgan John Parry Helen Price 5 6 OVCN project The Ouse Valley Cycle Network (OCVN) is a local project which will bring substantial economic and environmental benefits to the area of the South Downs National Park which includes the County Town of Lewes and the Channel Port of Newhaven on the Park boundary. VISION Our intention is to create a network of shared use paths which will link the villages along the Ouse Valley (Kingston, Swanborough, Iford, Rodmell, Southease and Piddinghoe) to a continuous route running along the Ouse River between Lewes and Newhaven. These multiuser paths will in turn connect with other local and National cycle ways including the South Downs Way National Trail. BENEFITS Environmental The OVCN is expected to bring significant benefits to the local communities it will connect by encouraging sustainable local travel to schools, colleges, sports grounds, shops and businesses, thereby reducing car use and contributing to improved air quality and reduction of greenhouse gases. It will provide non-vehicular access for visitors to this part of the South Downs National Park and will enable them to experience healthy and responsible enjoyment of this special landscape of valley, wetland habitats, chalk downland, historic buildings and attractive villages. Economic Local attractions and businesses, such as farm shops, pubs, B&Bs, hotels, cycle shops, markets and garden centres, can expect to benefit from the numbers of visitors who would use the Network (See Section 2, pages 11-12). Access via the rail stations at Lewes, Southease and Newhaven and the ferry port at Newhaven makes it convenient for walking and cycling groups wanting to tour the area. The project will contribute to both National Park Purposes and Government policies on sustainable transport, healthy lifestyles and localism. FEASIBILITY Some sections of the proposed OVCN are already in use for walking, cycling and riding. Others will require only modest development to make them suitable for cycling, while remaining sections will require considerable preparation and surfacing. Key to the project is the existing path along the river banks of the Ouse, currently a Right of Way officially restricted to walkers, but frequently used by cyclists. 7 We have commissioned a detailed feasibility study which has been undertaken by Sustrans. The report (Separate Attachment) shows that the OCVN can be achieved and that the costs of the full project, while considerable, are in keeping with similar projects. Furthermore the project can be implemented in phases with each completed section bringing increasing benefits. DELIVERABILITY Landowners Realisation of the OVCN will only be possible with the agreement and co-operation of local landowners and farmers. Initial discussions have produced positive responses from landowners covering 60% of the route and formal agreement in principle from a growing number (See Section 2, pages 11). However, it is recognised that securing legal access will be time-consuming. Therefore, it is our plan to create the network in phases. Phases 1) The track running from the village of Kingston to the Ouse River in Lewes is well advanced in its planning. Key landowner agreement has been secured and the cost has been estimated in the region of £250k. It is anticipated that this could be delivered within the stipulated three year period. 2) The shared path from Newhaven to Piddinghoe is similarly achievable within the time allowed and is expected to cost in the region of £200k. 3) The remainder of the route, particularly the path along the Ouse River, will take longer to achieve because of the number of landowners involved and the requirements of the Environment Agency and other government regulations which must be complied with, and the high cost. However, the key river route could become accessible to cyclists much sooner with permissive agreements from landowners for shared use with walkers, and alterations to some gates and signage. The cost of gate changes and signage is modest and much the installation work could be carried by volunteers. LOCAL SUPPORT This project will only be achieved with the enthusiastic support and involvement of our local communities, organisations and schools, government departments and agencies, and other partners. We have therefore consulted widely in an effort to seek this support and co-operation and have found that the desire for a safe and sustainable alternative to travel by car for local journeys is strong with the result that the project has attracted much local support (See Section 2 & 3). CONCLUSION The potential contribution of the OVCN project to the enhancement of the local economy, to the mitigation of climate change, and to influence behavioural change, is considerable. By creating environmentally friendly access from both Lewes and Newhaven, as well as the South Downs Way, the OVCN will undoubtedly attract new visitors to the South Downs National Park who wish to enjoy the special landscape and villages of the Ouse Valley. We hope ESCC and the SDNP will see this project as one which will bring real benefits to the Lewes area will enhance their bid to the LSTF. 8 SECTION 2 SUPPORTING EVIDENCE 2.1. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Kingston Community Surveys The Lewes to Kingston section of the network has carried out two community surveys, in 2005 and 2009, to gauge the interest in a safe cycle and walking route between Kingston and Lewes. These show not only strong support for shared use paths but clear evidence that, given a safe route, more journeys to school and work would be on foot or by cycle and journeys by car would be reduced. Details in Attachments 1 & 2 pages 16-19 OVCN Community Engagement Exercises During the last year a series of open public meetings, engagement with local Parishes and Councils, local schools and colleges have shown strong support for the project. We have also had discussion with the Environment Agency the South Downs National Park, East Sussex County Council, Sustrans and others. A web-site www.ovcn.org.uk gives information about our Aims, Vision, and Action Plan and allows people to comment on-line on our project. OPEN MEETINGS Spring Barn Farm 13 March 2011 Linklater Pavilion, Lewes 12 April 2011 Linklater Pavilion, Lewes 7 July 2011 Kingston Pavilion 25 July 2011 Linklater Pavilion, Lewes 25 August 2011 Hillcrest Community Centre 29 November 201 LINKLATER PAVILION WORKSHOP on 12th April. This consultation exercise was facilitated by Chris Patterson, the SDNP Communities Engagement Officer. This produced some constructive and positive feedback which has been incorporated into the OVCN project. (See Attachment 3) NEWHAVEN HILLCREST COMMUNITY CENTRE MEETING in November included group work facilitated by Jeremy Burgess, SDNP Eastern Area Manager and Jan Knowlson, SDNP Ranger which generated a lot of interest from people mainly from the Newhaven area and a number of offers off practical help. (See Attachments 4) 9 2.2 PEOPLE AND PARTNER ENGAGEMENT The following people are aware of the project and have either attended meetings or expressed their interest and support in other ways: Councillor David Rogers (ESCC) Councillor Nick Bennett (ESCC) Councillor Ruth O’Keefe (ESCC, Lewes DC & TC) Councillor Rosalyn St Pierre (ESCC) Councillor Melanie Cutress (Lewes DC) Councillor Chris Bradshaw (Newhaven TC) All the Parishes of the Ouse Valley have indicated their support. The OVCN Steering Group (SG) has good geographical representation with members from all six Ouse Valley Parishes, Kingston & Cranedown Residents Association and the towns of Lewes, Newhaven and Seaford. In addition the Steering Group membership embraces the following organisations or relevant interests groups: Cycle Seahaven Coastal Climates Community Interest Company Kingston & Cranedown Residents Association Lewes Railway Land Wildlife Trust Newhaven Community Development Association POLO (Parishes of the Lower Ouse Valley) South Downs National Park Authority South Downs Access Forum Village Connections Community Interest Company Steering Group Representatives have met for consultation with: Norman Baker MP Environment Agency (Richard Charman and Gordon Wilson, Flood and Coastal Risk Management, Sussex) Sustrans (David Young, SE Project Manager and Simon Pratt, SE Regional Director) East Sussex County Council (Lisa Simmonds Principal Transport Policy Manager and Alan Cook, Principal Transport Planner) South Downs National Park (Alison