Cycle Path

Stephen has extracted a commitment from the Highways Department at Essex County Council to improve the maintenance of the Writtle to Chelmsford cycle path, and to review the gap between the staggered gates. The one behind the Old Chelmsfordians is so narrow that it is difficult to cycle through.

As regular users of the path, Stephen and Angela Robinson are delighted that, after years of calling for action, the bridge over the river in Lawford Lane was finally replaced.

However, there appears to be no regular maintenance schedule for the path: with the autumn leaf-fall it can be like an ice rink.

After much chasing, Stephen received the following email from the Highways Department:-

Subject Various Highway Matters

From: John Dobinson Highways & Transportation

Date: Mon, 2 Apr 2007 12:31:50 +0100

Mr Robinson

I refer to your recent e mail, and am sorry that your earlier e mails have not been replied to. You used the correct e mail address, but I am afraid that it did not appear in the appropriate officers e mail box.

I will endeavour to answer your queries if I can, but I may need to arrange for further investigatory work, and to reply to you on some of the items later.

* The bridge over the River Can in Lawford Lane - I will get this looked at to see if it can be improved

* Foxburrow Lane - This is not public highway, although it is a public right of way for users on foot. I am afraid that I do not know the owner of the lane

* The village end of the cycle path in St. John's Road - It is our intention to make this section up later in the year. Although it is not a highway, it is a link through to the cycle path, and consequently we carry out repairs.

* General Maintenance - Cycle paths are not at present on a regular cutting schedule, we tend to react to requests, however this is not the most satisfactory way of dealing with the vegetation and I am hopeful that we can institute regular inspections in the near future. The frequency would normally be twice a year. I would just add that if the vegetation is growing over from adacent properties / land, we would normally contact the land owner to request them to cut it back.

* Gates on cycle paths - It is not our policy to install staggered gates on all cycle routes, but we tend to where the meet roads. There is a standard specification for this, and the gap between barriers should be 1.2 metres. I will arrange for the barrier south of Old Chelmsfordians to be checked.

My apologies once again for you not having received a reply earlier

John Dobinson
Chelmsford Highway Maintenance Manager