Consultation soon on plans for 13 new Quiet Cycling Routes across Wandsworth Post Reply

[Community Editor]

Councillors have agreed to stage a detailed public consultation on proposals for a network of safer and quieter cycling routes that can be used by residents of all ages and riding skills.

The transport committee agreed to consult residents on proposals to create more than a dozen Quiet Cycling Routes across the borough, offering safe journeys mainly along quiet residential streets linking communities with local amenities.

The proposals mirror Transport for London’s Cycleways initiative which offer “high quality cycle routes that link communities, businesses and destinations across London. They’re easy to navigate so riders of all levels can feel safe and confident.”

Improving local cycling infrastructure and encouraging more people to travel by bike are key ambitions of Wandsworth’s Future Streets strategy.

Jenny Yates, Wandsworth’s Cabinet Member for Transport said: “Encouraging people to travel on foot or by bike by making it safer and more convenient is just one of the ways we can help our residents live healthier and more sustainable lives.

“And by offering a healthy, safe and viable alternative to car travel, we can deliver cleaner air for Wandsworth and support the borough’s climate change targets.

“The 13 routes which we will shortly be asking the public to consider have all been selected because they link communities with important local amenities like shopping areas, green spaces, schools and railway stations.”  
The potential quiet cycleways routes are:

• Tooting Common to Wandsworth Common
Connecting the two commons via Cavendish Road, Rossiter Road, Bedford Hill, Balham Station Road, Chestnut Grove, Hearnville Road, Ravenslea Road and then on to Bellevue Road.
• Wandsworth Common to King George’s Park
Connecting the two green spaces via Kimber Road, Swaffield Road, St Ann’s Hill, Earlsfield Road and John Archer Way.
• King George’s Park to Wimbledon Common
Connecting the existing cycle routes on Wimbledon Common with King George’s Park, running along Inner Park Road, Augustus Road, Sutherland Grove, Granville Road, Merton Road, Buckhold Road and Mapleton Road.
• Barnes Common to Wandsworth Town
Connecting Barnes Common with Wandsworth Town via Egliston Road, Clarendon Drive, Charlwood Road, Norroy Road, Disraeli Road, Fawe Park Road, Woodlands Way, Oakhill Road, Putney Bridge Road, Frogmore, the South Circular and Ram Street.
• Sternhold Avenue to Drewstead Road (Tooting Common)
Connects Sternhold Avenue and Drewstead Road, which are both in Lambeth, via Tooting Common, providing access across the rail line and improving connectivity to local schools.
• Bellevue Road to John Archer Way (Wandsworth Common)
Connects Bellevue Road to John Archer Way on Wandsworth Common. It would follow an existing pedestrian route, with most of the route already having the sealed surfacing required to allow cycling.
• Clapham Common to Wandsworth Common
Linking the two commons via Clapham Common West Side, Thurleigh Road, Blenkarne Road and Bolingbroke Grove.
• Putney Heath to Wimbledon Park
Connects Putney Heath with Wimbledon Park via Telegraph Road, Tibbet’s Corner, Withycombe Road, Princes Way and Woodspring Road.
• Putney Heath to Putney Embankment
Connects Putney Heath to Putney Embankment via Carslake Road, Westleigh Avenue, Genoa Avenue, Hazlewell Road, Gwendolen Avenue, the South Circular, Charlwood Road, Felsham Road, Henry Jackson Road, March Place, Lower Richmond Road, Bendemeer Road and Rotherwood Road.
• Earlsfield Station to Burntwood Lane
Connects the Springfield Hospital site with Earlsfield Station via Magdalen Road, Tranmere Road, Waynflete Street, Swaby Road, Lidiard Road, Openview and Burntwood Lane.
• Clarence Lane to Putney stations (Roehampton northern route)
Connects the north portions of Roehampton ward with two stations in Putney via Clarence Lane, the University of Roehampton and Queen Mary’s Hospital, Crestway, Chartfield Avenue and Gwendolyn Avenue to either Putney Station via Norroy Road or East Putney Station via St John’s Avenue and Carlton Drive.
• Danebury Avenue to Putney stations (Roehampton central route)
Connects the central portion of Roehampton ward with the stations in Putney via Danebury Avenue, Roehampton High Street, Putney Heath and either Dover Park Drive or Putney Park Lane before connecting with Roehampton’s northern route.
• Bessborough Road to Putney stations (Roehampton southern route)
Connects the southern portion of Roehampton ward with the stations in Putney via Bessborough Road, Putney Heath and then either via Telegraph Road to connect with the Roehampton southern route or continue on Wildcroft Road, Putney Heath Lane, Rusholme Road, Holmbush Road and Keswick Road.

The public consultation will be launched this Spring.

[muddyboots]

Travelling by foot ?? You mean walking ?
And you know that thing called pavement? It’s quite good for walking on and takes you wherever you need to go locally. Like magic eh?
Maybe Wandsworth Labour money wasters can create a course for local residents to show them how to walk in case people don’t manage.

The suggested route between Clapham and Wandsworth common is already calm and doesn’t need any Labour meddling to create a cycle route . Thurleigh Road is wide enough and the poor people on the lovely Blenkarne do not need a cycle route made through it .

Utter nonsense to spend money where not needed
I wonder why there will be a consultation as they will do as they wish anyway.

[MrsHello101]

In complete agreement with Muddyboots.

What a total and utter waste of taxpayers' money! These are already quiet streets. Why initiate such a pointless scheme - and |I write this as a family of cyclists....of all ages and abilities!

And as for quiet routes for those "travelling by foot", unless I am very much mistaken (I'm not!), every one of these streets already has a PAVEMENT! What is a pavement for exactly - except to walk on, by foot, to arrive at your destination?

I can only suppose that this scheme is one toe on the ladder towards incoming LTNs (*cough, cash grabs, cough*), under the guise of "it's all about clean air". That, or the council seems devoid of anyone with any common sense! Anyone else feel like they are living Animal Farm?

I am fairly sure that the "very public consultation" will be swift and completely under the radar - so the Council can say that the majority of respondents agreed with their proposed views, even if they only get around a 15% response rate. And, like Muddyboots says, if residents do object, no doubt they will be ignored....."for the greater good."

Please Wandsworth Council use the money you have at your disposal for proper, meaningful, worthwhile and useful schemes, like decent social care, not redecorating your council offices or trying to implement ill-conceived traffic/cycling schemes! Stop with this nonsense!