Agenda item

Report of the Director of Transportation and Highways

To also consider a petition concerning ‘Stop the Binley Cycleway – Biggin Hall Crescent made exit only’. The petition bearing 160 signatures is being supported by Councillor R Singh, a Lower Stoke Ward Councillor, who has been invited to the meeting for the consideration of this item along with the petition organiser

The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Director of Transportation and Highways which sought approval to proceed with 75% of the Binley Cycleway scheme, which was a 6km long segregated cycleway connecting the City Centre with University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire. This was a regional priority cycle route forming part of the Starley Network. The report also responded to two petitions, one in favour of the proposals asking for more cycle lanes to be built. The second petition, which was supported by Councillor R Singh, a Lower Stoke Ward Councillor, opposed an element of the proposals around the Biggin Hall Crescent junction with Binley Road. A representative of the petition organiser attended the meeting and spoke in support of the petition.

The report detailed that cycling had an important role to play in addressing the challenges the city and region faced, which included reducing congestion, carbon and pollution, supporting economic growth and employment, tackling obesity and creating places where people want to live, work, learn, shop and do business.  Cycling offered an affordable, convenient and low-cost travel option to access jobs, education and leisure opportunities, particularly for people without access to cars. One in three households in Coventry did not have access to a car. Investment in high quality cycle routes was a priority set out in the draft Coventry Transport Strategy which was considered by Cabinet at their meeting on 12th October 2021.

During the West Midlands wide Local Cycling Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) development process, potential strategic core routes were evaluated and prioritised. A route connecting Coventry University and the city centre with University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) scored amongst the highest within the West Midlands metropolitan area.  Now referred to as Binley Cycleway, this route was developed throughout 2019 and early 2020, with an allocation of funding being made available from the Transforming Cities Fund in December 2019.

The scheme details were set out in Appendix A to the report. A second appendix highlighted the minor alterations and improvements that had been made following feedback from residents and stakeholders.

Public consultation was held in two phases due to the length of the scheme. Phase 1 covered Gulson Road up to Brinklow Road and took place between 28th September and 31st October 2020.  Phase 2 covered Brinklow Road to UHCW and took place between 1st March and 18th April.  Both phases were online with a questionnaire accompanied by downloadable plans. The Cabinet Member noted that Phase 1 included delivery of 6,000 ‘street news’ leaflets showing the route plan, artists impressions, some of the key aspects and web addresses to locate the online plans and survey.  76% of respondents stated that they supported the idea of segregated cycleways like this. The most common response was that people would like to see this go further and reach more destinations. The biggest concerns were how this might affect traffic congestion, parking concerns and the local economy.

Phase 2 included delivery of 4,500 ‘street news’ leaflets and some socially distanced on-street engagement on Clifford Bridge Road, once restrictions allowed. There was a very good turnout allowing valuable and detailed feedback to be received. 62% of respondents in phase 2 supported the idea of segregated cycleways. The main concerns were around the reduction in on-street parking on Clifford Bridge Road, narrowing of Clifford Bridge Road and that safety of the road in general. The Cabinet Member noted that there were lots of detailed comments that could in many cases be addressed. It was recommended that, for this section of the route, those amendments that were possible were drawn up and a further consultation undertaken. Appendix B to the report detailed further information on the public consultation and the responses received.

The report referred to two petitions that had been received. The first, bearing 398 e-signatures was submitted in March 2021 and supported the new Binley Cycleway, requesting more safe cycle lanes across the city. The petition had been responded to by determination letter earlier in the year.

The second petition, bearing 162 signatures, requested that Biggin Hall Crescent was not made exit only. A representative of the petition organiser informed of the negative impact that this proposal would have on the petition organiser’s business due to a likely loss of customers and requested reconsideration of this element of the scheme. The report detailed the reasons for the decision to ban traffic movements into Biggin Hall Crescent and the implications for drivers.

The development stage and delivery of the Binley Cycleway scheme was estimated to cost in the region of £8.6m. The scheme was expected to be fully funded from the West Midlands Combined Authority and government grants, a Full Business Case for which was currently going through the relevant assurance framework process.

RESOLVED that:

1)  The first petitioners support and the second petitioners concerns be noted.

2)  The high quantity and value of feedback received during both phases of public consultation and the amendments to the scheme that have been made as a result be noted.

3)  The scheme design and the construction of the Cycletrack for the sections of the route between Gulson Road and Brookvale Avenue, and between UHCW and Tesco Clifford Bridge access roundabout be approved.

4)  The review of scheme design for the section of the route between Brookvale Avenue and Tesco Clifford Bridge Access roundabout, and the holding of a further public consultation on the revised scheme design be approved.

5)  The advertising of Traffic Regulation Orders to enhance the safety of users of the highway and particularly the Cycletrack be noted.