Help us fight a diabolical design for Tunbridge Wells A21 "upgrade"

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girodilento
Help us fight a diabolical design for Tunbridge Wells A21 "upgrade"

Hello,

After a 20 year campaign by our local MP - the powers that be authorised a £70m upgrade on the A21 route between Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge. It's a 2.5m section to be turned from single to dual carriageway. We (TWBUG) contacted our MP before the green light was given (but after a consultation apparently) to talk about a need for a major high quality segregated cycle path/route as part of the project. Our MP said that it was already in hand and a very high quality route was to be included. Tarmac, we asked, yes we were told. 

We weren't able to get hold of designs or contacts and also lobbied our council TWBC. The project was approved and Balfour Beatty has been appointed to deliver the project. Recently they had an open meeting to show off their plans. 

Several of our members attended and were horrified at how bad they are. Gravel paths, shared with horses and pedestrians. Stop, start, barriers to coral cyclists past a road with only one house as access - a veritable disaster that would have been awful in 1975 let alone today. 

We still don't have copies of the plans but have been requesting a meeting with Balfour Beatty who aren't engaging. When we told them it was dreadful, they said it we shouldn't be complaining as it was better than it had been. An awful attitude. 

We have contacted our MP and our Council to ask for action but nothing is happening - can anyone advise us how to take this forward and get it resolved. 

This is a major opportunity to build something as a key bicycle transport link between two busy towns. The current design only focusses on motor traffic - all NMU are effectively lumped together in a very poor solution that will only work for mountain bikes if at all. 

Any help/advice appreciated.

Thanks

Scott & TWBUG...

 

Stoutlink

As you state any critiscm should have been voiced at the consultation phase. At this late stage everyone will be resistant to change. I image that the contractor is merely informing the public  of what they will undertake.  They are not the body that can undertake any changes.  You should tackle the local authority or, as this is a trunk road, the government.  I suggest the only solution is to organise a petition through the normal channel

Stoutlink

As you state any critiscm should have been voiced at the consultation phase. At this late stage everyone will be resistant to change. I image that the contractor is merely informing the public  of what they will undertake.  They are not the body that can undertake any changes.  You should tackle the local authority or, as this is a trunk road, the government.  I suggest the only solution is to organise a petition through the normal channel

Stoutlink
Stoutlink

As you state any critiscm should have been voiced at the consultation phase. At this late stage everyone will be resistant to change. I image that the contractor is merely informing the public  of what they will undertake.  They are not the body that can undertake any changes.  You should tackle the local authority or, as this is a trunk road, the government.  I suggest the only solution is to organise a petition through the normal channel

Stoutlink
Stoutlink

As you state any critiscm should have been voiced at the consultation phase. At this late stage everyone will be resistant to change. I image that the contractor is merely informing the public  of what they will undertake.  They are not the body that can undertake any changes.  You should tackle the local authority or, as this is a trunk road, the government.  I suggest the only solution is to organise a petition through the normal channel

Stoutlink

As you state any critiscm should have been voiced at the consultation phase. At this late stage everyone will be resistant to change. I image that the contractor is merely informing the public  of what they will undertake.  They are not the body that can undertake any changes.  You should tackle the local authority or, as this is a trunk road, the government.  I suggest the only solution is to organise a petition through the normal channel

Stoutlink
Stoutlink
Adrian Berendt

Agree this point wholeheartedly.  This route between Tonbridge, the new Tunbridge Wells hospital at Pembury and Tunbridge Wells Town Centre, is a key element in the cycling strategy being developed for Tunbridge Wells. Furthermore it provides an excellent link between NCN 18 and the popular leisure route from Tonbridge to Penshurst.

This is a chance to develop a route that could be a beacon for cycle route design in this area. It would be a terrible waste if a substandard cycle route design were agreed as part of a major, costly transport development aimed at easing congestion. A well designed route could be used by cycling commuters and help to alleviate some of the further congestion which will arise from the housing and retail park developments at Knights Park.

AndyR

http://highwaysmagazine.co.uk/wsp-wins-a21-design-contract/

It appears WSP are the designers on this scheme. They may be working for BB, but they are the ones you need to speak to. Might seem a small point but Contractors are always looking to reduce costs, and what you want 'looks' like a cost to them. The designers may be in a better position to incorporate what you want without that increase.

AndyR

http://highwaysmagazine.co.uk/wsp-wins-a21-design-contract/

It appears WSP are the designers on this scheme. They may be working for BB, but they are the ones you need to speak to. Might seem a small point but Contractors are always looking to reduce costs, and what you want 'looks' like a cost to them. The designers may be in a better position to incorporate what you want without that increase.

mjray

At this point, it's going to be difficult but I feel it's not impossible.

First prong: you need to go back to your MP and ask for the past assurance to be fulfilled. Make a appointment at the constituency surgery, phone up, ambush any public appearance you hear about but whatever you do, chase the MP. The Highways Agency is a PITA, with only its boss accountable to the Minister for Transport. It has a history of providing some of the worst cycling farcilities and building some of the biggest "barrier roads" in England.

Second prong, approach the designers, as suggested in other comments. Meet them if you can. Give them copies of "Making space for cycling" or whatever other tidy documents you think will help.

Third prong, you need to make this public, make people aware that cycling is good even for non-cyclists (easing congestion, reducing pressure on health services, spending more in local businesses - whatever you can make stand up), that the A21 project is threatening that by making an obstacle course for routes that cross it and that you want to public to make it clear to politicians that this isn't acceptable.

Good luck!

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