Since our campaign was launched in January 2013, we have come a long way toward creating a safe cycle link between Cambridge and Royston.  However we are in mid-stream and won’t achieve a complete link unless we push together in a determined way.  Please see below on where you can help in easy ways – thank you.  Some of the actions requested of you are conventional (writing letters of support) and others less so (scattering wildflower seed and cycling in a Santa hat).   But it is all genuinely helpful and your individual help is genuinely needed.

NON-FUNDED WORKS & WHAT YOU CAN DO: MELBOURN-ROYSTON PATH & BRIDGE

Detailed plans were created for the Melbourn-Royston link in 2014, when it was anticipated that Greater Cambridge City Deal funding would be allocated. Plans include a path linking the A10 at Royston Road Melbourn to the east side of the A505 roundabout, so entirely off-road on the east side of the A10 with an adjoining bridge over the A505.

Bridge Feasibility Study: Bridge plans have been further enhanced by Hertfordshire County Council’s Feasibility Study and will shortly be ready for your inspection. Please come to TAP Biosystems (Sartorius Stedim Biotech) opposite the Royal Mail depot on the Royston Industrial Estate on January 13^th, 6:45 for 7:00PM (NOTE EARLY START) 

Funding strategies and Local Enterprise Partnerships: Approaches by councillors – Fiona Hill and Tony Hunter for Hertfordshire and Susan van de Ven and Aidan Van de Weyer for Cambridgeshire – have been made to the respective Local Enterprise Partnerships (Herts LEP and Cambs & Peterborough LEP) which are government-funded agencies helping to progress sustainable, strategic economic growth through infrastructure supporting employment.

Royston happens to sit within the boundaries of both LEPs, a fairly unique situation.  It is probably a more natural fit for the Cambs/Pet LEP but both must coordinate in a cooperative approach.  The A10 Corridor Cycle scheme is now regarded not as an aspiration, but a well-progressed project with a missing link between Melbourn-Royston – itself viewed as an important high-tech, biomedical employment sub-hub with a strong case for completing the Active Travel pedestrian/cycle links.

Sustrans: It is recognized that the Melbourn-Royston link would feed naturally into the existing Royston Sustrans network (including the Royston rail underpass which received a Sustrans award last month), and serve a growing cross-county border population that lives and works in the immediate area.

Readiness for Department for Transport (DfT) funding: It is not likely that the DfT will continue the Local Sustainable Transport Fund grants, however through new evidence pertaining to health savings arising from Active Travel, it is anticipated that new funding streams could arise, reflecting that wider remit. Please see DfT’s ‘Economic Case for Active Travel: Claiming the Health Dividend’: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/economic-case-for-active-travel-the-health-benefits

To take advantage of any new DfT funding opportunities, we would be best placed for success if we can demonstrate a shovel-ready scheme that includes public support, with an element of community fundraising.  We will therefore 1) approach local businesses for funding pledges and 2) launch community fundraising, under the heading of ‘A10 Missing Links.’  To this end:

Sponsored Santa Cycle Ride, 12:15, Saturday December 19^th, Royston Station, main cycle park on station entrance side. Please bring friends and family, dress up in as much Santa gear as you can muster, and meet for a cycle tour of the Royston Sustrans route.  (You can bring bikes on the train from Foxton, Shepreth or Meldreth Stations; trains arrive at Royston at 12:15.)  The event should take about 30 minutes at most.  This will be a sponsored cycle ride with proceeds going to the A10 Corridor Cycling Campaign ‘A10 Missing Link’ fund which will be held in the A10 Corridor Cycling Campaign Building Society account.

This event must be high profile, high impact: please mark the date in your diary and plan to be there – and bring half-a-dozen people with you! 

A sponsorship form for the Sponsored Santa can be downloaded and printed here

Other news:

FUNDED WORKS: CYCLING AMBITION GRANT, HARSTON – FOXTON

The new cycle route between Harston Mill and Foxton is proceeding ahead of schedule. Foxton Level Crossing itself remains fundamentally problematic until Network Rail finds the wherewithal to progress level crossing closure and redesign.  For now we have to do our best with what we’ve got.  A small victory: Balfour Beatty will relocate their street lamp columns before not after the new path is put down in the level crossing vicinity.

Harston Village Path: See attached plan from Cambridgeshire County Council for a continuous 3-metre wide off-road dual use path on the west side of the High Street.  The path would be adjacent to the road, and a one-metre wide verge would be created between the path and private driveways.  Plans can be viewed at a10corridor.com.

Please express your support and any suggestions for improvement by filling out the online survey here or attending the public consultation events at Harston Village Hall on November 10 or 30, 6-8PM.  If positive support is NOT expressed, this will damage the prospects for the plan going forward and funding could be spent on another scheme elsewhere.  If all goes well, work should start in March 2016 and take three months to complete.

Seeding the new verges:South Cambridgeshire District Council Ecology Officer can provide a wildflower seed mix to cover the entirety of the A10 verge between Harston Mill and Barrington Road.  Because the County Council’s grass cutting budget has been reduced, with only two cuts per year are now carried out, a wildflower mix would mean less obstructive verge growth in addition to introducing greater biodiversity.   A team of volunteers is needed to help hand-scatter the seed – no digging or raking required this time.  Please inform contacta10cycle@gmail.com if you can help for an hour at some point soon.  Demonstrating this kind of visible support is helpful to the overall cause.

Cambridgeshire County Council have released their plans for a continuous 3-metre wide off-road dual use path on the west side of the High Street. The path would be adjacent to the road, and a one-metre wide verge would be created between the path and private driveways.

Please express your support and any suggestions for improvement by attending the public consultation event at Harston Village Hall on November 10 or 30, both from 6-8PM. If positive support is NOT expressed, this will damage the prospects for the plan going forward and the funding could be spent on another scheme elsewhere. If all goes well, work could start around March 2016 and take three months to complete.

The plans can be viewed or downloaded below

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

A link to Cambs CCs consultation page can be viewed here

Cambs CC now has draft plans showing different options for proposed new cycle path through Harston. These will be on display at consultation evenings on Nov 10th & 30th, Harston Village Hall, 6-8pm.

Please attend the consultation if you can. With alternate routes, such as Fowlmere to Newton, becoming increasingly busy and subsquently hostile to non motorised traffic, the A10 path is becoming cyclings last hope to many of us at rush hour times. This link is essential to cycling from the South.

A brief summary is given below:

– Proposed plans show a 3m wide track on west side of A10, with a new 1m verge next to private property boundaries, allowing cars emerging from driveways greater visibility.

– Cambs CC has said it would cut back boundary hedges and provide hard standing for bins, so that bins are not left on the track, obstructing cycle traffic.

– Pavement on east side of A10 is unchanged, although lay-by on west side of A10 opposite shop will lose space, but eastern lay-by will gain some and some crossing points will be moved.

– Alternative proposal to site path behind the village would not be economically viable, due to necessary land purchase for path and access routes and additional concerns of lighting and personal safety.

Sustrans gave the Royston Underpass an award as an example of national good practice on Friday, October 23rd. Nigel Brigham from Sustrans presented the award to Terry Douris of Herts CC.

A huge thankyou to everybody that made this underpass happen. It’s made a big difference to us and many other users.

A few of us met with a representative from Cambs CC to talk about the new path at the Foxton level crossing area. Many thanks to all who turned out to actually look at the situation. It’s enlightening to see how differently people use the crossing.

A couple of the points that were raised were:

The refuge island is in danger of causing a pinch point for anyone on the road, worsening the current  situation. This should be moved as far North as possible to the area where the road is three lanes wide.

The entry to the path heading North from Barrington Road should extend around the corner of  the A10 to provide a convenient entry.

The level crossing itself. Oh that level crossing. As it is, there is not an obvious through route without a severe pinch point. Discussions are ongoing with Network Rail with all sorts of ideas that go as far as widening the gates and removing the grass verge on the North East side. It should be stressed that this is just discussion for now, so don’t expect anything soon, but we are doing our best.

It’s not too late to have your say. Our AGM on Thursday 16th of October would be a great time to have your say.

We are delighted to hear of the imminent work on the A10 cycle path between Harston Mill and Foxton Level Crossing, commencing north and working south. This would then continue south from the level crossing to Shepreth Lakes.
Work on Harston itself is being treated as a separate project; the County cycling team is currently working with Harston parish.
For now: please look at the linked plan and feel free to send any comments to us. The bit that needs a careful look is the approach to Foxton Level Crossing.

You can view or download the plans from here.

John Stanley, from Cambs CC, is endeavouring to avoid a narrowing of the path at Hoffers Brook – this is a work in progress.
We are working with Balfour Beatty to make sure they replace their street lamp posts BEFORE the path is created! Congartulations to all there.
Looking to clean up area around Foxton crossing for better cycle parking whe using the railway- details to come.
– Duration of scheme = 20 weeks (not including holidays – so Christmas/New Year will add extra time)
– 2 way temp traffic lights in place for 75 days
– 3 way temp traffic lights in place for 25 days
– 3 man traffic management crew

In order to minimise the disruption they will be working restricted hours; (09:30 – 15:30).

They will also be utilising night working. This saved us 10 weeks from the original programme.
If you are free Tuesday 22 September at 13:30, please come to Foxton Level Crossing where we will take a group photo for publicity, to coincide with the start of works next week. As many people as possible would be much appreciated.
That’s it for now – There will of course be updates on everything at our next meeting, 15 October at TAP Biosystems in Royston.

Work will commence in early October to bring the off-road path along the A10 between Foxton and Harston up to a high standard (2.5 m wide), creating a very good environment for walking and cycling.  Funding comes directly from the Department for Transport.  Work is expected take about 20 weeks to complete.

Some jobs are too big for individuals to undertake. The importance of reporting path faults, such as the Royston to Melbourn path can’t be underestimated. The more people that report it, the more likely it is that it will get some attention. So please don’t leave it for others to report, it takes only a minute or two to report a fault online. You can do so here http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/info/20081/roads_and_pathways/10/roadworks_and_faults.

Some jobs can be done by individuals though such as helping to keep paths clear. A huge thankyou to the members who have been out cutting back hazardous vegetation etc.

Clearing the path at Harston.