East Riding of Yorkshire Council will progress plans to improve the footway along the busy B1230 across Beverley Westwood to allow shared use by pedestrians and cyclists, after a planning inspector approved the council’s application to exchange an area of land to accommodate the scheme.
Planning Inspector Michael Lowe, appointed by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, recently chaired a public hearing at East Riding Leisure Beverley to discuss the land exchange proposals with interested parties.
Today, the inspector issued his decision and concluded that ‘the deregistration and exchange proposal would not significantly adversely affect the interests of any person having rights in relation to the release of land’ and that ‘the proposal would have substantial benefits to the neighbourhood’.
The council will now register an area of 4,000sqm, formerly known as Fishwick Mill, which is not currently protected as common, as common land in exchange for an area of 710sqm adjacent to the current footway. This would ensure that the total area of land registered as common would not be reduced and would, in fact, be increased.
The council feels that improvements are necessary as the route is used by local school pupils, some as young as 11-years-old, and is part of the National Cycle Network. It is also a popular commuter route between Walkington, Broadgates and Beverley.
Work would improve safety for cyclists and also allow people to enjoy the Westwood in a sustainable way.
Councillor Andy Burton, cabinet portfolio holder for planning, highways and transportation at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “The council welcomes the planning inspector’s decision and will now begin the process of fine-tuning the scheme design, which already has approval, with key stakeholders before starting on site.
“The council is a keen advocate of cycling as both a leisure activity and as a sustainable form of transport. To this end, the authority is continuing to develop the cycling infrastructure of the East Riding with a focus on providing safe routes for cyclists.
“The B1230 is a heavily-used commuter route and the development of an off-road cycle route will ensure the safety of cyclists and in particular children attending the local schools.”
The council aims to start work on site in early 2016, with the scheme anticipated to cost around £200,000.
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It will be ok if the cyclists use the cycle path and not ignore it and use the road, like a significant number of cyclists do with the other dedicated cycle paths in the Beverley area.
Cyclists do not have to use a cycle path !