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.

Some interesting comments were made about Local Enterprise Partnerships at our last meeting. If you have experience or knowledge of them, we would love to hear from you.

Some comments about LRPs from the last meeting:

“Just to summarise what I said in the meeting about LEPs

The Local Enterprise Partnerships are a “left-over” from the old regional planning system. Under the Blair government, each region had a Regional Assembly (which was initially made up of local councillors, but was eventually intended to be elected) and a Regional Development Agency, which allocated a pot of government funds to infrastructure and regional-promotion projects. The whole system was scrapped in 2010 when the Coalition came to power, and the LEPs were introduced as a voluntary replacement. Originally they carried no public funding, with the idea that they would facilitate local businesses and local authorities to work together. In 2012, the government changed its mind and allocated a pool of money for LEPs to spend. They also help to channel European money (where that’s available) into the right region.

Looking at the LEP Network website, there appears to be something called the “Sustainable Transport Delivery Project” which specifically relates to funding to help the cost-effective delivery of active travel projects like cycle routes. This appears to be consultancy rather than actual hard cash for the project, but worth knowing. Details here:
http://www.lepnetwork.net/key-activities/transport/“

Royston-Shepreth ride with Cambridgeshire Cycling Champion, to see the segments of the route that are in such dire need of improvement:  Wednesday 10 June, from 19:15, departing from Royston Station. All welcome.  To finish up at the Plough, Shepreth.

A huge thank you to the following businesses who have signed our business letter to the City Deal Beard.
The following businesses have signed in the last few days.

Set-up Scenery, Meldreth add the 100th signature to the letter.

Set-up Scenery, Meldreth
Cambridge Plant Interiors, Manor Farm Harston
South Cambs Landscaping Services, Meldreth
Fenny Lane Allotments Meldreth
Movac Melbourn
David Hall Kitchen and Furniture Makers Melbourn
HFL Advisory Services Ltd Melbourn
Burden and Burden Marketing Melbourn
IPE Melbourn
BAR Ltd Melbourn
Jan Energy Services Ltd Melbourn
The Black Horse Melbourn
Mylen Recruitment Meldret
Meldreth Manor School
Hills Road Sixth Form College, Cambridge
PA Consulting Melbourn
Melbourn Parish Council
Granta Montessori Pre-School, Shepreth
Esse Retail and Therapy, Melbourn
Arbon and Turner, Fowlmere
Melbourn Veterinary Surgery

Many thanks for the support to:

Ion Science, Fowlmere
Wyevale Garden Centre, Shepreth
Sheene Mill, Melbourn,
Meldreth Parish Council

66 businesses have now shown their support.

We have received word that MP Oliver Heald will wave off the Royston end of the awareness ride this Sunday (May 18th). Do join us if you can at Royston or Trumpington Park and Ride. See the Events and Memoranda page for full details.

The a10 campaign has been out in force restoring the verges along the new section of path with grass and wildflower seed. Many thanks to all the volunteers who attended.

The Cambridge News have written a small article on this, with a couple of pictures. See it here