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Concern over awareness of Brackley’s Cycling and Walking plan consultation
11/03/2024
The public had until February 25 to comment
Brackley residents have expressed concern that not enough people were aware of a Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan consultation which could lead to big changes for the town’s motorists.
West Northamptonshire Council ran a consultation from January 15 to February 25. They put forward a number of ideas with the aim of making it easier for people to be able to choose alternatives to car journeys for short, everyday trips to places of work, education and areas of retail and leisure.
Amongst the ideas in the consultation the informal one-way system on Manor Road between Halse Road and Waynflete Avenue would be formalised with measures put in place to enforce a 20mph limit. Parents of those at schools in Manor Road would be encouraged to “park and stride” from the High Street and Market Place. Winchester House School would be closed to through traffic.
Other ideas to create a safer walking and cycling environment included removing the right turn box for vehicles from the Banbury Road into the Market Place, pedestrianising some of the Market Place car park and considering charging for the remaining spaces.
Within the wider area, proposals were put forward for cycling routes into Brackley from Syresham, Turweston, Westbury, Croughton and Helmdon.
Brackley resident Victoria Emberley is concerned that not many people knew about the consultation. She fears its all part of a wider agenda against car users.
Victoria said: “The survey was very cleverly designed because it never gave the opportunity to say if you felt the money should be spent on the roads.
“They want to reduce parking, charge for parking and reduce the through traffic of Brackley. My question is where is the through traffic in Brackley? The A43 is taking through traffic away so surely anyone who’s coming into Brackley wants to use the town. Why would we want to inhibit that?
“All they’ve done is a half day visit here from someone who isn’t from Brackley. They’ve prepared a shoddy report that’s by someone who has no interest in Brackley whatsoever.”
West Northamptonshire Council told Banbury FM that the consultation had been promoted on social media, the Council’s website, sent to the local press, and shared with local town and parish councils.
A spokesperson said: “[We] carried out a public consultation on proposed Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPs) in Daventry, Brackley and Towcester from 15 January to 25 February. The Brackley consultation received 418 responses, the highest number of the three areas.
“The draft LCWIPs were drawn up in full consultation with the local community; Parish and Town Councils, local WNC Members, and interested parties such as community and sports groups.
“The Council is currently analysing all the responses and will produce a summary report by the end of April which will be published on the WNC Consultation space. This report will include any recommendations for making changes to the LCWIP document in light of the consultation feedback. The proposed plans will then be presented at a future cabinet meeting for Councillors and the public to review. Once it is approved by cabinet, the strategy document will form part of the WNC Local Transportation Plan. Timescales for this part of the process are not currently fixed, but it is expected this will take place during late spring and summer of this year.
“The LCWIP is intended as a 10 year strategy document. The plan is the first step in identifying a long-term pipeline of investment and the proposals shown are currently high-level and indicative of what may be delivered. Any individual corridor or route that comes forward for further development as funding opportunities allow will be subject to full feasibility design work which will include further stakeholder engagement followed by detailed public consultation work to help shape schemes as they develop and before they are constructed.”
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam
Liz Lewis On 11/03/2024 at 4:29 pm
I live in Brackley and haven’t had any Information about these proposals – which would affect us hugely as we live on Waynflete Avenue. However I strongly support a lower speed limit in the surrounding area but only if someone is policing it!
Joseph Murphy On 11/03/2024 at 4:33 pm
say goodbye to the high streets
Edward Horton On 11/03/2024 at 7:35 pm
I’m 83 and my wife is 78. We don’t want to to walk or cycle – just drive into town and do our shopping. Plenty of older people are the same.
What do Market Place shopkeepers think about this?
And I didn’t know about the consultstion.
Tristan O'Brien On 11/03/2024 at 8:41 pm
if they wanted genuine feedback, why didn’t they advertise it on posters throughout the town. or even write a quick note to everyone in the local newsletter / magazine that gets pushed through everyone’s door? Consultation, hardly.
Geri On 11/03/2024 at 9:02 pm
it sounds as though restrictions are not welcomed. for me it would be difficult to walk to the shop and market place.
would this further drive people to banbury gateway or to shops with easier parking and vehicle access?