In early September Northamptonshire County Council published its Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan - a fairly modest set of proposals for implementation over 10 years, but quite radical for car loving Northampton. The document is open for consultation until 23 October.
The planned first scheme was to convert one of the arterial roads to one way for cars and build a 2 way cycle lane. Predictably there was considerable local opposition and a Change.org petition containing the usual mixture of falsehoods, inflammatory language and opinion masquerading as fact (I managed to get them to correct the most blatant inaccuracy). The upshot was that the Council announced last week that the scheme would be scrapped without even going to consultation.
This is depressing on many levels, not least that local democracy is broken if badly researched petitions have such influence. In many ways this is completely in character for NCC as there is no vision of how cycling can benefit transport in an already congested town and certainly no political will to change.
Northampton Cycling and Walking Plan
Re: Northampton Cycling and Walking Plan
Even the mildest of challenges to motor vehicle dominance is usually opposed by vehemence rather than logic. The case for cycling and walking is obvious but the public sadly in most cases is unaware, and if it is, chooses to ignore it.
The cost benefits of building safe and attractive cycling and walking routes is enormous compared to prestige projects much loved by our political leaders. The return on every £1 invested in HS2 is roughly the same, and going down daily, whereas cycling and walking projects can produce a return of up to £8 for every £1 invested. Yet the government is proposing to spend billions on roads and a minute amount from petty cash on cycling and walking.
The cost benefits of building safe and attractive cycling and walking routes is enormous compared to prestige projects much loved by our political leaders. The return on every £1 invested in HS2 is roughly the same, and going down daily, whereas cycling and walking projects can produce a return of up to £8 for every £1 invested. Yet the government is proposing to spend billions on roads and a minute amount from petty cash on cycling and walking.
Re: Northampton Cycling and Walking Plan
I live in Northampton and yes, this is depressing. Scrapping a proposal before the consultation, and without trying to make the case ... perhaps they didn't really want to do it in the first place.
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merseymouth
- Posts: 2519
- Joined: 23 Jan 2011, 11:16am
Re: Northampton Cycling and Walking Plan
Morning, They have ticked the box, so will be eligible for money in some area or another. Best Effort would never be on the cards, just "Going Through the Motions" is enough, smile contentedly!
Policy Area attended to, job done. Salary justified in their terms. IGICB MM
Policy Area attended to, job done. Salary justified in their terms. IGICB MM