Work starts on new cycle route for western Maidenhead

Following a consultation with residents and schools in the western end of Maidenhead, work is set to start on Monday 15 February (the first day of half term) on a new cycle route with road crossings.

By making it safer for pupils to cycle and walk to school, it is hoped the improvements will help boost the number of children and young people travelling to school sustainably and reduce congestion and parking issues.

The project - in an area particularly low on cycle routes at present - is being match-funded by the Royal Borough and the government's Links to School programme administered by sustainable transport charity Sustrans, with each contributing £170,000.

The need for the scheme was initially identified through the school travel plan for Newlands Girls' School, but three other nearby schools will also benefit from the works - Altwood CE Secondary, St Edmund Campion Catholic Primary and All Saints CE Junior.

The improvements will include:
• creation of a permitted path for cyclists on the public footpath connecting Farm Road and Newlands Drive
• signing of the existing quiet route along Newlands Drive
• shared foot/cycle path along the A4 Bath Road between Cannon Lane and Westborough Road
• toucan crossings over the A4 near Cannon Lane and Highway Road
• table top crossings at Marlborough Road and Wootton Way
• signing of the existing quiet route along Westborough Road
• modifications to the end of North Star Lane to create a through route for cyclists.

Cllr Colin Rayner, lead member for highways and streetcare, said: "I would like to thank everyone who responded. We have investigated the issues raised and made appropriate changes to the plans, in particular widening the path between Newlands Drive and Farm Road. This council always puts residents first and listens to their concerns.

"There has been support from parents who appreciate the need for this initiative and I hope the new set-up will encourage more pupils, teachers and parents to walk or cycle to school.

"Other cyclists will benefit too as it will offer a convenient route towards the town centre, something this part of Maidenhead has been lacking."

Every effort will be made to minimise the impact of construction on pedestrians, road users and residents. Because widening of the public footpath between Newlands Drive and Farm Road will require the path to be closed, the work has been scheduled for during the school holidays, starting on 6 April and running for about a week.

Work is expected to be completed in time for Walk to School Week in May (17 to 21 May).

Every school is encouraged to develop a school travel plan, which looks at the existing situation and then identifies a series of actions that the school, the council and other partners can take to reduce car use and promote more sustainable forms of transport such as walking, cycling and public transport.

Peter Challis, Sustrans' area manager for the Thames Valley, said: "Sustrans is very happy to support this scheme with Links to School funding. We believe the proposed scheme will address many of the issues that currently discourage pupils from walking and cycling to the schools in western Maidenhead and will make their journeys safer and more pleasant."

How do you rate this information/service?