Tag: Warwickshire County Council

A newly installed black chicane barrier on a wide, off-road path. To the right of the restriction is a wooden fence; to the left, is a shaded hedge. Fresh tarmac is laid under the restriction. Ahead and beyond the barriers is a residential road.

The barrier complaint – an update

Posted on 28/11/202410/12/2024 by Fiets! Let's Cycle Like the Dutch

Earlier this year I entered into a protracted complaint with the County Council about the sudden installation of a chicane barrier on a short piece of path that is vital for accessing a formal shared use route. Counting from the date of installation, the matter has been going on for almost seven months, so here’s a quick update.

Ratcliffe Road, Atherstone showing a pavement where pedestrian guardrail is positioned to take-up maybe 20% of the path width. To the left is the road with "school keep clear" zig-zags. To the right is green space. Autumn leaves line the boundary between the grass and the footpath

Worsening pedestrian space in the name of safety

Posted on 16/11/202416/11/2024 by Fiets! Let's Cycle Like the Dutch

Earlier this year, Warwickshire County Council applauded itself on the installation of a new guardrail barrier by a school, yet in doing so it has reduced pavement width, apparently ignoring DfT guidance on accessible space.

A primary school seen from the public road. The road joins an area for a mini-roundabout, the centre of which is just out of shot to the right. "School Keep Clear" zig-zags surround the boundary of the road. The footpath is buffered to the road by guard rails. The school's sign can be seen standing high, above the school's green fencing.

School expansion – An active travel opportunity?

Posted on 14/11/202414/11/2024 by Fiets! Let's Cycle Like the Dutch

Consultations are currently underway following proposals to expand two Nuneaton schools to accommodate growing demand. Those schools, like so many others, are known to suffer with motor traffic congestion at the peak times of drop-off and pick-up – a situation that will only get worse without some form of mitigation.

Escalated complaint still ignored by Council

Posted on 27/08/202420/09/2024 by Fiets! Let's Cycle Like the Dutch

The seemingly unending chicane barrier issue raised with Warwickshire County Council continues as a manager finally responds to the escalated complaint detailed back in July. It’s taken a long time, and a lot of chasing to get this reply – but which still fails to properly consider the points originally raised back on 16 May 2024. To briefly recap, in

The continuing saga of a chicane barrier

Posted on 18/07/202420/09/2024 by Fiets! Let's Cycle Like the Dutch

Chronicling the protracted continuing saga of a new chicane barrier, installed suddenly and without warning in April 2024 by Warwickshire County Council, on a short path close to a formal shared use walking and cycling route – but without proper consideration to current legislation, design standards for accessibility, or its own policies regarding transport and active travel.

An image of Croft Road in Nuneaton from a bicycle camera in the centre of the lane, about to pass a traffic island pinch point. Parked cars line the road ahead, and traffic is flowing in the opposite direction. Houses line the right side of the road. To the left is a green strip with a few fairly young trees.

An appropriate response to a consultation submission?

Posted on 12/07/202418/07/2024 by Fiets! Let's Cycle Like the Dutch

Recently, Warwickshire County Council ran a short consultation on installing speed cushions on Croft Road, Nuneaton. Responding to that, an objection submitted by yours truly noted the issues these can cause for cycling, including the potential increase in the risk from close passes, and in particular the impact on accessible cycling – points that appear to have been ignored in the Portfolio Holder’s Report.

Facebook post from Warwickshire County Council Road Safety Education and Active Travel: "Our Active Travel website has recently had a Spring clean, and we’d love to know your thoughts! Simply reply to this post with your feedback and suggestions for future improvements. Visit https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/activetravel to take a look around!" A graphic below the text shows the website displayed on a laptop screen, with accompanying text similar to the above.

Commenting on Warwickshire’s new active travel pages

Posted on 12/06/202412/06/2024 by Fiets! Let's Cycle Like the Dutch

Warwickshire County Council has revamped its active travel pages, and the Warwickshire Road Safety Education and Active Travel social media accounts have asked for comments – so, I had a look, and gave some feedback as follows:

Bull Ring Junction with Heath End Road and Greenmoor Road, Nuneaton (April 2020)

Works set to begin on motor-centric junction redesign

Posted on 30/05/202430/05/2024 by Fiets! Let's Cycle Like the Dutch

Two-and-a-half years after Warwickshire County Council put out a junction redesign for consultation, construction of the car-centric updated junction at Greenmoor Road, College Street, and Heath End Road in Nuneaton is set to begin in the Summer of 2024.

Cycling along the A47 Long Shoot in Nuneaton, a 40mph, as a lorry passes at a safe distance.

Warwickshire PAUSES Nuneaton cycle schemes

Posted on 01/12/202302/12/2023 by Fiets! Let's Cycle Like the Dutch

Warwickshire County Council has stated that it is pausing development of its often-delayed Long Shoot Cycle Scheme and its Hinckley Road scheme in Nuneaton. The reasoning for this decision has been attributed both to levels of community support and a funding shortfall.

A47 Long Shoot, Nuneaton (West Bound). On the left is a town boundary sign. A pedestrian island is visible in the middle of the road, presenting as a pinch point.

Another Delay to the Long Shoot Route

Posted on 08/09/2023 by Fiets! Let's Cycle Like the Dutch

The wait for construction on Warwickshire’s high quality cycle scheme alongside the A47 Long Shoot in Nuneaton continues as the local authority has confirmed another delay to the project. While the scheme is still expected to proceed, it is now hoped that construction on the 1.4km route will begin early in 2024.

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