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Bishops Cleeve LCWIP (Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan)

This County Council consultation on the Bishops Cleeve LCWIP has now closed. Make sure you’re subscribed to our newsletter so we can keep you updated as plans emerge.

What is the Bishops Cleeve LCWIP?

Gloucestershire County Council consulted in early 2023 on a new Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan for Bishops Cleeve (the ‘Bishops Cleeve LCWIP’), including its connections towards Cheltenham and Tewkesbury.

‘LCWIPs’ are important DfT planning tools used by councils to decide on their priorities, and by central government to decide where limited active travel funding is spent.

An image from the Bishops Cleeve LCWIP planning tool guidance, showing how routs will be prioritised.
One of the tools that local transport planners will use as part of the LCWIP process

Local authorities are expected to produce LCWIPs that provide;

  • a network plan for walking and cycling which identifies preferred routes and core zones for further development
  • a prioritised programme of infrastructure improvements for future investment
  • a report which sets out the underlying analysis carried out and provides a narrative which supports the identified improvements and network

Whilst we are encouraged that there is finally progress on the connection between Bishops Cleeve and Cheltenham, the success of this route will be dependent on local connections at each end, and so this Bishops Cleeve LCWIP will be a really important policy document.

The consultation website gives you the opportunity to consider what the council believes are the primary and secondary routes for cycle users around Bishops Cleeve, and to add your own comments on where there are challenges and opportunities for improvement.

Have your say by 17 February

What kind of things have people highlighted so far for the Bishops Cleeve cycling plans?

The photos below show a range of the issues that have already been raised through the online map.

One of our key identified priorities for the Bishop's Cleeve LCWIP is the large roundabout outside the supermarket in Bishops Cleeve which is a major safety barrier for riders.
A large overrun style roundabout with heavy crossing traffic in the centre of Bishops Cleeve creating a barrier to access the shopping area
The fast, straight Cheltenham Road will be a strong desire line to the Gloucestershire Cycle Spine. However, without controlling traffic, it is a difficult route to make suitable for the majority of riders.
Cheltenham Road heading south from Bishop’s Cleeve towards Cheltenham. This is a strong desire line to connect with the current proposed cycleway to Cheltenham, but it lacks adequate width for effective separate cycle facility with existing traffic volumes.
The Bishops Cleeve LCWIP will only establish areas, and there is a need for quality. The image shows a shared path interrupted by roundabouts.
A recent development where cycle facilities are shared, narrow, and interrupted regularly by motor vehicle junctions which they do not have built priority over.
A typical no-priority crossing of the shared cycle path across a fast and wide junction exit from the A435 on the West side of Bishop's Cleeve , with inadequate refuge and turning arcs.
A typical no-priority crossing of the shared cycle path across a fast and wide junction exit from the A435 on the West side of Bishop’s Cleeve , with inadequate refuge and turning arcs.
A cycle lane abruptly stops at a boarding where the Gotherington Cycle Lane has yet to be delivered.
The start of the unbuilt connection between Bishop’s Cleeve and Gotherington, highlighting the importance of delivery as well as planning.
The popular crossing into Stoke Road to access Bishop's Cleeve from the West that is frequently blocked by vehicles due to design issues, lack of markings and poor enforcement.
The popular crossing into Stoke Road to access Bishop’s Cleeve from the West that is frequently blocked by vehicles due to design issues, lack of markings and poor enforcement.
A typical crossing of a busy entrance into a commercial area with no cycle priority, poor path widths, wide and fast entrance and exit mouths off a 40mph carriageway, compounded by poor sighting distances. The Bishops Cleeve LCWIP needs to address existing as well as new routes.
A typical crossing of a busy entrance into a commercial area with no cycle priority, poor path widths, wide and fast entrance and exit mouths off a 40mph carriageway, compounded by poor sighting distances.

Could you help us on the ground in north Gloucestershire?

As a reminder, we are still looking for local cycle users who can get involved with the committee to extend our local knowledge of cycling issues in Bishops Cleeve and Tewkesbury. If you’re local, and would like to help, please get in touch.

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