Current News - Archive: 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006
| Headlines | 20's Plenty for Cheltenham Bank Holiday cycling festival in Tewkesbury Cheltenham bike sales boom Starvehall Farm development |
| 20's Plenty for Cheltenham | Headlines |
Towns and cities across Europe, including several like Portsmouth and Oxford in the UK, have recognised the benefits of widespread 20 mph speed limits. These include better ambience, less congestion, improved road safety, easier walking and cycling. Even motorists can benefit.
Traffic calming, long a main aim of cycling activists, is now recognised by the Department for Transport in their hierarchy of provisions for cycling (ref DfT LTN 2/08) - they are encouraging local authorities to explore the scope for more 20 mph areas - not just the limited and relatively expensive 20 mph zones which have road humps and other physical infrastructure.
Living Streets (AKA the Pedestrian Association) is very keen, as are cycling campaigners. So when national organisation www.20splentyforus.org.uk wanted to publicise the potential benefits for Cheltenham, cyclecheltenham jumped at the chance to help.
Rod King, one of 20's Plenty's key activists, will be explaining the schemes and benefits at Francis Close Hall, University of Gloucestershire, on Thursday 22nd July from 4 to 6 p.m.
Let's see whether they can be as successful in Cheltenham as they have been with the towns and cities listed on their website.
If you are interested in attending, drop an email to Cheltenham@20splentyforus.org.uk
| Cheltenham bike sales boom | Headlines |
Cycle sales in Cheltenham continue to increase despite the recession, with many people taking advantage of the Government's Cycle To Work discount scheme which offers up to 50% off the cost of a new bike and accessories.
See:
| Bank Holiday cycling festival in Tewkesbury | Headlines |
Cheltenham & Tewkesbury Cycling Campaign will be taking part in a festival in Tewkesbury on May 30th and 31st as part of the
The festival will be based near Swilgate bridge, south of the Abbey.
| Starvehall Farm development | Headlines |
The developers have published their plans for new housing to be built on the site of Starvehall Farm between New Barn Lane and Prestbury Road, Cheltenham. The plans include a new link road between the above two roads and a new roundabout at the junction of Prestbury Road and Priors Road, the idea being that through traffic from Priors Road to the racecourse will in future go via the new link road and avoid the double mini-roundabouts in Prestbury.
At an exhibition, the developers explicitly said that cyclists would be accommodated on the new road, but then mentioned design features such as narrowings and splitter islands which often squeeze cyclists where drivers attempt to get past in too little space. They also announced an off-road cycle/pedestrian route along the west side of the road linking to Prestbury Road. This had the appearance of a shared-use footway which in inherently unsafe.
C&TCC Treasurer John Franklin, a local resident, has written to the developers about these shortcomings and received a reply that their highway consultants will consider the points raised. Too often developments such as this are undertaken by people with little idea of what works best for cycling, so it is hoped this might result in a better outcome.
Where the new link road meets New Barn Lane and Prestbury Road there will be T-junctions, which should be better for cyclists than roundabouts.