STACC March 2024 Newsletter

Oaklands Bridleway

At long last Oaklands College are endeavouring to communicate with local residents - we are grateful to the Marshalswick North Residents Association for passing on updates via their Facebook page. This has been quite a saga, and officers and councillors have made it very clear that any extension to the rights of way closure orders will only be granted if closures are minimal and well advertised. Construction affecting the bridleways has now been completed, however, a new difficulty has arisen - 'contamination'. This is understood to be sewage, and the heavy rainfall cannot have helped with whatever leakage / overflow has been occurring.
At time of writing, the bridleway North Drive from Sandpit Lane to Oaklands College remains closed due to the contamination according to Claire Dolan,
(Deputy Principal, Strategy, Partnership & Business Development) on the
Oaklands College website. The outer barrier (see above) now has its gate open but the path is then blocked by another barrier. There does appear to have been some attempt at making an alternative route to the college; on the right after going through the gate, a path with a very soft surface has been laid, which according to the map above should get you to the college. However, the softness of the path surface means it cannot be ridden along even by mountain bikes, which is rather disappointing from an establishment that offers construction courses.

London Road Bus Lanes

Herts County Council is proposing to give buses greater priority on the roads to improve bus journey times and make services more reliable as part of its Bus-Service Improvement Plan. Schemes are funded by central government. In St Albans this will include:

London Road - Mile House Lane junction

A new northbound bus lane on A1081 London Road of about 300 metres, from the approach to the junction with Drakes Drive up to the junction with Mile House Lane, with new traffic signals giving priority to buses at Mile House Lane junction.

London Road - London Colney roundabout

A new southbound bus lane on A1081 London Road from the cemetery entrance to the junction with to Nightingale Lane approaching the London Colney Roundabout, where it crosses the A414 North Orbital Road.

Speed-Limit reduction

HCC would also like to hear views on whether the speed limit on the section of London Road up to the railway bridge should be reduced from 40mph to 30mph.

The bus lanes would be in operation all the time; moreover it is not intended to have any signage explicitly permitted to allow pedal-cycle usage. These proposals have obvious implications for cyclists. You can see more details about the scheme on the HCC website here where you can complete a short survey which is open until 17th March. Please do this, as the scheme is likely to receive some volume of adverse comments from motorists, which would put the scheme in doubt.

There is also a public exhibition of the proposals at St Lukes Church, Cell Barnes Lane, on Thursday 7th March 3:30 - 7 pm, where you can ask HCC officials questions about the scheme.

Alban Way - Smallford

The Alban Way has experienced severe and prolonged flooding under the bridge at Smallford several times in recent weeks due to the heavy rainfall, getting worse as the month progressed. This video recording shows the extent over the last weekend of February. The former railway is in cutting here and so is the lowest point for run-off from the field on the south side and Station Road ditches overflowing from the north across the station car-park.
It has been an exceptionally wet month, more than double the usual monthly rainfall and the wettest February since records began in 1836. More about our warm, wet winter can be found on the Met Office website.
Nonetheless, this is a well-used active travel route and it is good to hear that SADC and HCC officers are co-operating to investigate the drainage system and, we hope, come up with measures to make the Alban Way more flood-proof.

Marquis Lane - Harpenden

Herts County Council is proposing to install an additional pair of speed humps at the junction of Marquis Lane and Crabtree Lane.
The scheme consists of the following proposals and are detailed in the above plan:

Install an additional pair of speed humps in Marquis Lane adjacent to 175 Crabtree Lane.
Erect a new speed-hump warning sign opposite 30 Marquis Lane.
Remove redundant speed-hump sign outside the Marquis of Granby and left-hand bend sign outside 169 Crabtree Lane.

The information provided forms part of the consultation process (STACC is a 'stakeholder') and HCC invites you to provide comment on the proposal by email to: hlbtro@hertfordshire.gov.uk by Tuesday 19^th March 2024.

Public Cycle Workstands

Hertfordshire County Council is providing District / Bororugh Councils with cycle workstands for public use. St Albans District Council has installed one at Westminster Lodge, at one end of the covered cycle racks, and another at the Cycle Hub on Cottonmill Lane, again by the cycle stands. Others are expected to be installed in the city centre and outside Harpenden Leisure Centre.
Each workstand contains several tools attached by thick cables, comprising:

allen keys
torx keys
screwdrivers
pedal spanner
adjustable spanner
tyre lever

The last item should be suitable for levering off very tight-fitting tyres, such as those that are tubeless. However, there is no track pump incorporated.

To see how to use the work-stands, see this YouTube video by the Hertfordshire Cycling, Walking and Wheeling team featuring Mat Daniels, Manager of the Cottonmill Community and Cycling Centre..

Cathedral Travel Plan

St Albans Cathedral is currently developing a travel plan which will maximise the opportunities for visitors to reach it by foot, bicycle or public transport. In recent years they have supported sustainable travel with barrier control of vehicle access to Sumpter Yard, the replacement of some parking spaces with landscaping, and the provision of cycle racks. They would like to hear of any further suggestions by email to will.gibbs@stalbanscathedral.org.uk .

The benefits of holding street gatherings, particularly if held more frequently using the Playing Out scheme, are numerous. They include public health benefits for mental and physical health in both children and adults, active citizenship, active travel (particularly learning & encouraging bike riding), and benefits to those in the community that are isolated and need more local support. Having a Playing Out scheme is unique to St Albans District in Hertfordshire, despite being widespread elsewhere across the country.

Hemel Hempstead Hill-Buster

Take in the panoramic views of the rolling Chiltern Hills and the beautiful Hertfordshire countryside, before celebrating your achievement together with food and drink at the event village knowing that you have made a big difference towards helping families and individuals facing crisis across Dacorum by registering here .

Travellers' Tales

Sign on a shared-use path in Sofia Gardens Cardiff in two languages, but one of them doesn't rhyme as well as the other.

St Albans Cycling Campaign

c/o 5 The Limes

St. Albans, Hertfordshire AL1 4AT

United Kingdom

Add us to your address book

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.