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NCN6 A1081 Harpenden / St Albans Road
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The resurfacing work on extensive lengths of the shared-use path alongside the A1081 has now been completed, and is a significant improvement. Near St Albans, the stretch between Woollams and the bridleway through Hawkswick Fruit Farm has been resurfaced. The dreadful mudbath is no more - or rather, the mud is not on the path; see how much has been scraped to the side all along the route! South of Harpenden the resurfacing extends from the cricket club to Beesonend Lane (excluding the short section by the bus stop and crossing which was renewed a few years ago).
This improvement of the worst sections of this route is very welcome, but some remaining sections desperately need siding and resurfacing, especially the muddy part between the bridleway and Childwickbury entrances, and the bumpy part between St Albans and Woollams.
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Photo by Bob Barrett
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A major impediment to cycling a complete circuit on the St Albans Green Ring has been the barriers half-way along the path linking Jennings Road and Avenue Road. Although these could be negotiated, with difficulty, by most 'standard bicycles', they excluded 'family cycles', such as tandems and box-bikes, from this section of the Green Ring. The nearest alternative routes are along Sandpit Lane or Hatfield Road - quite! The barriers were also a problem to for buggy-pushers and wheelchair users.
STACC takes full credit for these barriers at long last being removed. They were installed in 2020 and the spacing did not comply with design guidance. STACC has persisted in requesting Herts County Council to remove them, and at last it They have done it! All that remains of the barriers are 4 patches of fresh tarmac.
And you can see the tarmac - the clearance of thick mulch and mud in the autumn was a direct result of STACC meeting with Council Highways officers, as reported in our December 2023 newsletter, and we are pleased that this winter's leaf-fall has been promptly cleared.
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We reported in December about a STACC member who was issued with a fixed-penalty notice for £88 by a District Enforcement Officer for cycling in The Marlowes, the town-centre precinct of Hemel Hempstead. You can also be be issued with an FPN for littering, and it now appears that this category includes urinating - even in lay-bys in country areas of Dacorum. This has indeed happened at least twice recently and you can read an in-depth article about this and the legal implications here.
Will this be a problem for cyclists, who are known to have wee stops (a Scottish term) but usually unobtrusively in the roadside bushes? And it's not just cyclists; there are implications for pedestrians and dogs being taken for a walk. However, as the article explores, a discreet wee in a rural hedge is one thing, a stinking layby alongside a main road is quite another.
The FPNs were issued by employees of District Enforcement, which is a private company contracted by Dacorum council which receives only 22% of the fines. However, Local Authorities are currently under pressure to raise revenue by whatever means, and may be watching Dacorum enviously and beginning to think along the same lines.
Could any such fines be ring-fenced for better provision of public WCs? The Dacorum facilities are listed here Public toilets (dacorum.gov.uk)
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LCWIPs - Dacorum and Hertsmere
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A more salubrious piece of news from Dacorum Borough Council is that they are working with Hertfordshire County Council to develop a Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP). The plan forms part of the Government's strategy to increase the number of trips made on foot or by bike. It will help to identify walking and cycling routes of most importance to the community with the intention of implementing improvements over the next 10 years. Funding will be sought from central Government. The aim is to make walking and cycling around the borough more attractive and viable options than using a car. They want your views on how they can make cycling and walking routes in Dacorum better. Take part in their consultation here, which is now open until 11.59pm on Monday 26th February 2024.
Hertsmere is not quite so advanced, but invite your interest here Hertsmere LCWIP (arcgis.com)
If you cycle or walk in either of these local authority areas, do please contribute. Lots of people responding will demonstrate the enthusiasm for actvie travel!
Progress on existing Government-funded active-travel schemes in Dacorum and elsewhere in the county can be seen on the HCC Active-Travel Fund web-pages: Improving walking and cycling across Hertfordshire (Active Travel Fund and Capability Fund) | Hertfordshire County Council
We eagerly await an the anticipated update 'in early 2024' on the Central St Albans scheme in Marlborough Road.
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Central and East St Albans supports 20mph
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Many thanks to STACC members and friends who responded to the 'Public Engagement' for 20mph across Fleetville, Camp and Cunningham, as featured in our November 2023 newsletterl; HCC have now reported on the engagement.
There were 1252 responses from the 5771 properties in the area invited to comment, a response rate of more than 20%, well in excess of the 10% minimum required for the proposals to progress. Numerical analysis:
Do you support the proposal to introduce a 20mph zone in St Albans as outlined in the supporting documents YES 66% No 34%
Specific sections:
Clarence Road YES 62.3%, No 37.7%
Beaumont Avenue YES 65%, No 35%
Camp Road YES 64.7%, No 35.3%
Cunningham Hill Road YES 63.2%, No 36.8%
Drakes Drive (part) YES 61.9%, No 38.1%
Thirlmere Drive 63.7%, No 36.3%
The comments received were in line with the numerical results, with the majority in favour, and many comments labelled as 'negative' were actually critical that the proposals were not more strongly favouring active travel. Samuel Ryder Academy is very keen on the measures proposed for Drakes Drive. Respondents opposing the measures gave reasons such as 'increased congestion and pollution', whereas those in favour are looking forward to increased pedestrian safety and reduced traffic speeds and an increase in sustainable-travel choice.
This 20mph scheme is funded by national Government allocation, not from County Council money. So it is 'use it or lose it', and the signs are it has strong public support.
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Spokes, the South-West Herts cycle-campaign group, is inviting you to attend their annual Cycle Gathering on Saturday 1st June 2024. This year they are combining with the Willesden Cycling Club at the Tour De Ricky, based at Woodoaks Farm, Denham Way, Maple Cross, Rickmansworth. Farm attractions include the Tea Shack and Creative Juices brewing company. Cycling groups are invited to organise rides to Woodoaks Farm and enjoy the company of fellow cyclists and all that the farm has to offer. There will be various cycling and fitness-related stalls, and activities including led local rides. They suggest groups spend some time at the farm, and ensure they are there for a mass photo call at 1:00pm. Apart from the groups cycling to the Gathering there will be large numbers of cyclists departing to or returning from the various events of the Tour De Ricky.
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Hertfordshire County Council is proposing to reduce the 50mph speed-limit along The Common to a 40mph speed-limit. The scheme consist of the following proposals and are detailed in the above plan:
- Remove the 50mph speed limit along The Common and extend the 40mph speed limit up to the entry into Potten End.
- Construct ‘Gateway’ entry feature on The Common, west of Bullbeggars Lane junction, incorporating a new Potten End, Please drive carefully and 30 combination sign.
- New ‘Dragons Teeth’ road markings to highlight the speed-limit change from 40mph to 30mph and the new gateway-entry feature into Potten End.
- Provision of new edge-of-carriageway road markings along with the removal of existing centre-of- carriageway road markings between junction of Ivy House Lane & Bullbeggars Lane.
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Stevenage Cycling UK Public Meeting
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Stevenage Cycling UK have a public meeting titled Cycling in the UK on Saturday 25th February with a buffet. One of the speakers will be Duncan Dollimore Cycling UK's Head of Campaigns.
Location: Springfield House, High Street, Old Stevenage
Time: 7 p.m.
Cost: £2 plus donations on the evening towards the event and Essex and Herts Air Ambulance
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Spinathon at Westminster Lodge
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We are delighted to include the following request from STACC member Marian Ferguson:
This is a short-notice friendly reminder to invite you and all your friends, family and neighbours, to the third Spinathon we are organising on SATURDAY 24 FEBRUARY 2024 to raise desperately needed funds for Headway Hertfordshire, the Charity that supports those with Acquired Brain Injury for as long as needed, after Health and Social Care input is completed.
A brain Injury can happen to any of us, any time. It is utterly life-changing, and as you will know it happened to James 8 1/2 years ago. Headway keeps not only James, but also myself and countless others afloat.
We twice managed to raise over £5,000, and we very much hope you are able to help us match it again this year, either by joining the Spinathon (NO experience required, you pedal as long as you want at your own speed) or by making a donation.Please enrol by calling the number on the poster above, and the Just Giving link is https://www.justgiving.com/page/headway-hertfordshire-1704385626620
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A sign that Spring is almost here can be deduced from this photograph, taken in late January, of blooming daffodils outside Hogg End Farm on Hogg End Lane, north of St Albans. The wall is south-facing and absorbs heat on sunny days, releasing it into the soil at night and warming the bulbs, so this early blooming is an annual event.
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The current edition of the National Trust Magazine (spring 2024) includes an article by its Head of Data, Huw Davies, on his recent quest to cycle to every place in the National Trust handbook within a year, visiting 624 sites. He admits having assistance from both his family and trains, and noted that only 37% of NT sites have cycle racks, despite their stated claim of wishing to welcome more cyclists. However, several NT sites in the north have been trialling a 10% discount in shops and cafés for anyone who visits without a car. The only NT site near here is Shaw's Corner, at Ayot St Lawrence, which does have some cycle racks tucked away in the corner of the car-park.
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2024 Subscription renewal
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Most of you have now paid your £5 subscription for 2024, most by standing order or direct debit, but some by post. If you do send us a letter containing cash, please remember to include a note to say whom it is from. If you recognise your handwriting above, you did not do this, so please send us an email (to info@stacc.org.uk) so we can keep our records up to date.
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