Two Tunnels
The award to Sustrans to develop cycle- and walkways around Britain means that the development of the two tunnels - the Devonshire Tunnel and the Combe Down Tunnel- from Bath to Midford is going ahead. The 2 tunnels project, a 4-mile shared-use path linking central Bath with the Midford valley, came to our notice about 3 years ago, and in April 2009 the WA and Greenway! jointly organized a public meeting with Sustans and representatives of the Council.
It was fairly soon established that whilst many Widcombe residents welcomed the path and its planned access point at the end of Lyncombe Vale as a valuable local amenity, those who lived nearest to it had reservations, particularly with regard to potential problems with traffic and parking in Lyncombe Vale. A group of Lyncombe Vale residents, led by Colin Norman, formed themselves into the Lyncombe Vale Residents' Group, and the Group's representatives were involved in all further talks with Sustrans, along with Greenway! and the WA. All interested parties were consulted and kept fully informed.
It soon became clear that the options available for access to the Two Tunnels path from Lyncombe Vale were a ramp or steps with a gulley at the side for wheeling bikes up or down. Steps at one stage seemed the most likely option, as the Council was unwilling to release allotment land at the end of Lyncombe Vale, and Sustrans said that they would be unable to build a ramp within the confines of the embankment because of the expense of such construction.
However, following a Two Tunnels Steering Group meeting on July 8th 2011 all of the interested parties were informed that Sustrans could after all afford to construct a ramp within the existing boundary of the former railway land. All parties were further informed that the Council Transportation policy manager, Adrian Clarke said that, as this was now the case, Sustrans would be obliged to build a ramp, as steps would not conform with disability (DDA) legislation. Planning permission would be required for this ramp.
Following on from this, at the end of July 2011 the following statement was agreed upon by the WA, Greenway and the LV Residents' Group:
"The Widcombe Association, Greenway! and the Lyncombe Vale Residents Group are broadly supportive of Sustrans' proposal to build an access to the Two Tunnels Cycleway at the end of Lyncombe Vale.
We stress that our support is conditional on the access being constructed, advertised and signposted solely as a way for local residents to get on and off the route, and we oppose any intention that it should form part of an alternative cycle route into the city centre. This is because the roads in Lyncombe Vale are suitable only for residential access and it would be inappropriate and dangerous for them to be used either as a throroughfare for cyclists, or as a destination point for motorists wishing to park in the Vale in order to access the cycleway.
We are encouraged that Sustrans plans to hold an exhibition at which local residents will have an opportunity to make representations and we would like to see the issues we have raised addressed at that exhibition. We seek reassurance that only representations made by local residents will be considered relevant in the process of planning and building the access."
In October 2011 the LV Residents' Group sent questionnaires to houses in Lyncombe Vale. 30 returns were obtained from 90 houses canvassed, and the response to the request for views on the Sustrans proposal (including the access ramp) were as follows: 18 thought it a bad idea, 6 a good idea, and 7 were neutral.
The WA's view remains the same as in our joint agreed statement: we are broadly supportive of Sustrans' proposal, with the provisos about signage and construction that we have already stated.
Towards the end of March 2012 Sustrans reported that a geotechnical survey which should have confirmed that the embankment was stable enough to bear the proposed ramp had not delivered the outcomes specified in the requirement and that the consultant had been requested to readdress the task. This means that the building of the proposed ramp has been delayed, and the path is expected to open on 6th October 2012 without an access point in Lyncombe Vale.
Public Meeting 22nd April, 2009
This meeting was convened by the WA in conjunction with the Greenway Lane Area Residents' Forum (GLARF)*, and was chaired by WA ChairmanRichard Wales; the GLARF Chairman, Martin Broadbent, being unavoidably unavailable. The meeting was well-attended not only by residents, but by Adrian Roper, Regional Director of Sustrans, who gave the formal presentation and fielded most of the questions; Malcolm Shepherd, Chief Executive of Sustrans; local councillors Ian Gilchrist and Brook Whelan; B&NES director for Planning and Transport Development David Trigwell, and police representatives Inspector Stephen Mildren and PC Malcolm Webley.
Main points raised by concerned residents concerned security, and increase in traffic and parking in the Lyncombe Vale area. These concerns were addressed by Adrian Roper, who said that the tunnels would have mobile phone reception, and in answer to a request from the floor, that the Devonshire tunnel would also be fitted with a cctv system, as well as the main Combe Down tunnel. Lights in the tunnels will be on all day, and have infra-red sensors at night. The tunnels would be gated during the construction phase , and in response to a query from the floor, Adrian said the gates could be retained, and moreover, on being pressed by Councillor Whelan, promised that there would be a written undertaking that the tunnels would be closed if necessary.
Most attending felt that the meeting had been a constructive one, with many residents' fears addressed. The WA and GLARF will continue to monitor progress and hold regular meetings with Sustrans.
*Note: GLARF is now known as Greenway!
To see how the scheme fits in the broader cycle network:
http://www.sustransconnect2.org.uk/schemes/project_detail.php?id=2
And for more detail on the Two Tunnels Project: