REPORT TO
DATE OF MEETING
Leyland East
15 December 2008
Report template revised June 2008
SUBJECT
PORTFOLIO
AUTHOR
Proposed Cycling Improvements,
Worden Park, Leyland
Leisure and Cultural
Services
Greg Clark
ITEM
SUMMARY AND LINK TO CORPORATE PRIORITIES
This report outlines proposals to improve the opportunities for cycling through Worden Park by the
improvement of entrances for pedestrians and cyclists and new signage where required.
Improvements to the park would link directly into the Corporate Priorities of Clean, Green and Safe
Environment and Healthy Communities.
RECOMMENDATIONS
That:
1. Members approve the proposed improvements outlined on the attached plan to allow cycling
along the park’s principal routes to be formalised.
2. Members support the submission of a planning application for the works at North Lodge to deadopt the access road as highway and return it to public open space as shown on the attached
plan.
DETAILS AND REASONING
Worden Park’s main drives are currently used by cyclists to access the park’s facilities or to travel
between different areas of Leyland. In line with the council’s priority of Healthy communities, works
are carried out where possible to encourage residents to walk and cycle rather than drive within the
borough and the parks and open spaces form important links.
A small grant has been awarded by Lancashire County Council for the improvement of cycling
opportunities within Worden Park. The proposed works would include:
o
Closing the roadway leading up to the North Lodge Arch to vehicular traffic with locking
bollards allowing the main gates to be opened for pedestrians and cyclists. This access road
would be changed from adopted highway back to public open space, subject to planning
permission.
o
Installing locking bollards at the end of Shaw Brook Road at its junction with Leyland Road to
prevent the current problem of unauthorised vehicle access (further timber posts may be
required along the route to prevent cars driving down the grass bank from the car park on
Westmorland Close).
o
Signing the main drives from Langdale Road, Shawbrook Road and North Lodge with small
signs attached to exiting posts/lighting columns to indicate a shared footpath/cycleway and
providing directional fingerposts on the highway at Worden Lane towards North Lodge and
Leyland Road towards Shawbrook Road.
o
Providing cycle parking at suitable locations within the park.
The drives proposed to be formalised for shared use are already a minimum of 3m wide and so
would not require any works to widen them at this time, although works to improve the surfacing
has been included within the park’s strategic plan and Heritage Lottery Bid. As the drives would be
used for shared use rather than segregated, there would be no requirement for any white lining.
WIDER IMPLICATIONS
In the preparation of this report, consideration has been given to the impact of its proposals in all
the areas listed below, and the table shows any implications in respect of each of these.
FINANCIAL
The work has an estimated cost of £5,000 of which £4,300 would be paid
by Lancashire County Council and the remainder funded from the Parks
Development budget.
The current Bye-laws do not restrict the use of pedal cycles on the park.
Updated bye-laws are being considered for the parks and open spaces
which, if enacted, would read:
“No person shall ride a cycle in the ground in such a manner as to cause
danger or give reasonable grounds for annoyance to other persons.”
LEGAL
The Public Right of Way status of Shawbrook Road would not be affected
by the proposals. There are no formal rights of vehicular access over
Shawbrook Road except for the Council, however, access will continue to
be permitted to farmers accessing the land to the south of the road.
Any member of the Area Committee who is also a member of the
Council’s Planning Committee need to be mindful that they do not debar
themselves from voting on the planning application should it eventually
be referred to Planning Committee for determination. Such members may
consider neither voting nor speaking on the item when is considered at
Area Committee.
RISK
It is considered that the risk associated with the formalisation of cycle
routes along the park’s principal drives would be minimal due to their
current width (minimum of 3m) and the fact that cyclists have used the
routes for some time now.
The introduction of signage where appropriate is likely to reduce the risk
of conflict between pedestrians and cyclists as it will be signed that the
drives are shared use.
Health and Safety
Formalising cycle routes through the park would provide off road links
within Leyland which would be safer for cyclists.
OTHER (see below)
Corporate Plans and Policies
The introduction of shared pedestrian and cycle routes would contribute
the council’s policies for healthy communities, encouraging more people
to cycle rather than drive. The proposed works complement the works
outlined in the long term strategic plan for the park.
Sustainability
The introduction of shared footpaths/ cycleways would help in the
promotion of sustainable travel.
Asset Management
Equality, Diversity and
Community Cohesion
Human Rights Act 1998
Corporate Plans and
Policies
Freedom of Information/
Data Protection
Implementing Electronic
Government
BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS
Plan of shared use routes and signage (attached)
Plan of Proposed works to North Lodge (attached)
Crime and Disorder
Efficiency Savings/Value
for Money
Health and Safety
Health Inequalities
Staffing, Training and
Development
Sustainability