East Herts Council (EHC) and Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) are on the verge of finalising their Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP). The blueprint has identified key routes and proposes safety and ease-of-use upgrades. Before the proposals receive final approval and go to implementation, local authorities are asking residents for their thoughts on the report and what matters to them. Residents can fill in the survey here.
What is an LCWIP?
A Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) is a document that analyses local travel patterns in order to identify locations that would most benefit from investment over the next 10 years. It serves as a framework that sets in motion a long-term plan to increase the number of journeys made by foot and bike, and make existing routes safer and more accessible.
The first step is to analyse data and evidence in order to get an understanding of the most common pedestrian and bicycle journeys – those undertaken for example by commuters, schoolchildren and shoppers. This research is compiled to create a map of priority routes. From this analysis, a ‘priority network’ is created – locations that are in the highest demand and where investment would have the most impact, are scheduled for change.
Improvements can include:
- Investing in cycleways for the safety of cyclists
- New and improved pedestrian crossings
- Changes to junctions, roundabouts and crossroads
- The widening and resurfacing of footways
- Accessibility improvements for users with mobility issues
- ‘Traffic calming’ measures to slow vehicle traffic
What are the proposals?
For the past three years, East Herts Council has been working in tandem with Hertfordshire County Council and local stakeholders to draw up their own LCWIP report. The proposed improvements to walking and cycling routes are on the verge of final approval. The full report can be accessed in PDF format here. Alternatively, East Herts Council have a dedicated website, explaining the Council’s LCWIP process and proposals at a glance.
An interactive map has been published on the website, where residents can view the results of initial research identifying the most popular walking and cycling routes, as well as the ‘priority network’ – the proposed improvements to local infrastructure. Much of the proposals are centred on Hertford and Bishop’s Stortford, with several upgrades also pencilled for Sawbridgeworth and Puckeridge. The map is easy to manoeuvre, with a key to help decipher the array of symbols and lines.
Once the public consultation period ends on November 5, the council authorities will consult feedback and make any necessary changes to the LCWIP. The report will then pass through to the EHC and HCC to be formally adopted, from where design and feasibility planning will start turning the report into reality.
It’s important to have your say
Local democracy can seem trivial at times, but it is a vital component of the healthy functioning of our political system. In a moment when national politics can feel alienating, futile and divided, local community engagement offers an opportunity to really have your voice heard and make a tangible difference to your community.
The survey, running until November 5, allows residents of East Hertfordshire to inform the authorities of their opinions on the overall LCWIP report, as well as to comment on specific routes or proposals.
Are you aware of a section of road that is dangerous for pedestrians, a cycle path that is poorly designed or a junction that needs some maintenance? Now is the opportunity to flag any issues regarding walking and cycling infrastructure to the council. Help shape the future of sustainable travel in our community.
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