A senior councillor has hit out at controversial county council plans to create a cycle path along one of the city’s busiest roads.
Councillor Liam Calvert, Green Party shadow cabinet member for transport, criticised Norfolk County Council’s scheme to extend a cycle-friendly route along the A140 Holt Road.
He said the proposed path is “almost a perfect example of how to build one so badly that it will not work for people who cycle or anyone else”.
The scheme has also been criticised by a pro-cycling campaign group who say the plan is “far below an acceptable standard and fails to do the job it's supposed to”.
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County Hall has acknowledged the criticism and said they will be taken on board, alongside other responses, during the project’s consultation period.
‘HOW NOT TO BUILD A CYCLE PATH’
The proposed cycle path will run along the A140 Holt Road and is part of a wider £1.9 million scheme to alter road markings, add new crossings and extra bus stops along the road.
But Cllr Calvert criticised the plans for being unsafe.
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He said: "High-quality cycle provision is vital to allow people of all ages and abilities to get around safely, easily and cheaply.
"Yet this proposed cycle lane is almost the perfect example of how to build one so badly that it will not work for people who cycle or anyone else, making obtaining public support for other, better-designed schemes much harder in the future."
Critics highlight that under the proposals there will be no buffer between the cycle track and the 40mph road so riding along it would feel unsafe, especially on the unlit northern section after dark.
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Cllr Calvert added: "As well as the plans not meeting government standards for cycle infrastructure, it has sections which will be very unsafe and will force children to cross five lanes of traffic to even get onto the route.
"The county council should take note of the many problems, consult in depth with stakeholders like the Norwich Cycling Campaign and then start planning a new scheme from scratch."
Derek Williams from Norwich Cycling Campaign has also criticised the scheme.
He said: "What is proposed is far below an acceptable standard and fails to do the job it's supposed to.
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"To get more people cycling we need proper infrastructure built to the national design standards that provide safe, direct and convenient routes. This isn't one of them."
COUNTY HALL RESPONSE
Responding to the criticism a Norfolk County Council spokeswoman said: "These proposals were developed in discussion with Active Travel England. We have now written to properties in the project area and contacted a range of stakeholders and interest groups inviting them to share their views.
"We have taken on board the feedback received from Norwich Cycling Campaign and will consider this as a whole, alongside all the other responses collected by the consultation deadline."
Consultation over the plans runs until Monday, August 26. If approved, work would start early next year.
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