Cycling Forum - Minutes 08/10/07

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Tameside Cycling Forum

Meeting held 6.00pm - Monday 8th October 2007 at Ashton Council Offices

1. Attendance

Present:

Cllr Andrew Doubleday - TMBC (Chair)
Peter Brocklehurst - Janus Road Club
Alan Pickles - Cyclist
Janis Hett - Cyclist
Dave Chadderton - Mossley CRC
Stuart Bailey - Sustrans Ranger
John Bloomfield - Cyclist
Chijioke Ebizie - Tameside MBC
Carl Baron - Countryside Officer
Nigel Gilmore - Tameside MBC

Apologies:

Ian Saxon - Mossley CRC
Dave Collins - CTC
Michelle Murphy - TMBC

2. Minutes of meeting Monday 9th July 2007 and any Matters arising

The minutes of the previous meeting were approved as a correct record.

3. Draft Terms of Reference for Approval

NG presented the revised draft “Terms of Reference” for approval. These were accepted subject to a minor amendment to include “all forms of cycle activity”. CE to post onto the Tameside web

4. Update on Tameside Cycle Strategy

Tameside MBC has now received a tender from its consultant and is currently considering its contents.
Members were informed that any appointed Consultant will hold a “drop-in” sessions for forum members.
The consultation exercise will be extensive to get a better representation of views.
It is hoped that as a result of the study a 3 to 4 year programme of cycling improvements will be determined.

5. Progress Reports

See Appendix A.

6. Any Other Business

DC invited the Forum members to an awards ceremony on the 26 th of October. Mossley Cycle Racing Club has received “Go Ride” accreditation.
SB raised the issue surrounding the blocked Regional Cycle route by Fairfield Station in Audenshaw. CE stated that TMBC Legal and Land Use sections were currently dealing with the problem and would update the group accordingly.
PB feels that TMBC should examine the Cycle Signage on Abbey Hills Road in Oldham , with a view of employing similar facilities in Tameside. CE to inspect facilities in Oldham and report back to the group

7. Date of Next Meeting

14th January 2008 at 6.00pm.

Appendix A - Current Scheme Progress

Item	Scheme	Description	Status	Report
1	Route development NCN66	Design work commenced on the NCN66 link to Park Bridge Heritage Centre. Discussions are also taking place with British Waterways for access along the Peak Forest canal towpath.	Work ongoing	CE
2	Route Development RCN85	For RCN85 Tameside MBC is currently in consultation with British Waterways to use a section of the Ashton canal towpath	Work ongoing	CE
3	Oxford Park ( Stockport Road )	Cycle Lanes to be extended to Guide Lane (A6017) from Oxford Park	Work ongoing	CE
4	Ashton to Stalybridge cycle route	Part of the Strategic study	Work ongoing	-
5	Stockport Road (NCN62)/ Wakeling Road	Scheme currently being reviewed	Work ongoing	NG
6	Stockport Rd/Two Trees Lane Junction.	Part of the Strategic Cycle review	Work ongoing	-
7	Cycle Maps for Tameside	Copyright issues preventing reprint.	Work ongoing	CE
9	Connect 2 Lottery Bid	Both Tameside related bids are on the reserve list.		CE
10	TPT (NCN62) - Greatwood Nature Reserve	The preferred cycle route through Greatwood Nature Reserve, has been deemed not feasible because: There are a lot of trees with preservation Orders. The balance is 95% nature conservation and 5% for leisure pursuits Opening up this route to cyclists will also encourage motorcyclists. A less contentious route using the farm road should be examined as an alternative.		CE
11	Dowson Primary School	Planning application submitted was not successful a revised application is being prepared	Work ongoing
12	M60/M67 West to East crossing and the M67 crossing in Hyde	Awaiting response from the Highways Agency	Work ongoing	NG
13	Higher Henry Street , Hyde	Though preliminary approval was received to provide a “cycle bypass” at this location the length of the “No Entry” restriction and the subsequent “mandatory” cycle lane has made the scheme unworkable. An alternative solution is to be sought.	Work ongoing	CE

In response to the above several comments were raised and included: -

PB/JB - Wanted assurance that the Consultant will meet with Forum Members as part of the consultation exercise.
JH - (Previous Item 6.5) Sustrans representative in Manchester has stated that the crossing south of this location to be unsafe.
SB – Reiterated his unhappiness with the cycle provisions on the road section of the TPT (A6017) in Denton . He feels the difference with neighbouring Authorities is glaring. CE responded that crossings in Stockport on the TPT were done using Section 106 or other such agreements (Planning condition for a supermarket development in Stockport ). Tameside's on road section was chosen as a temporary measure, until a more direct route is found from Reddish Vale.
JH – Wanted to know if the Council could open up its footways for children to cycle on. She says this practice is being employed in Warrington and Salford MBC is also exploring how to implement a similar provision. The Chair stated that this would be impossible to grant across the council area but each location would be considered on its own merit.
JH – Wanted to know why Tameside MBC did not have a “Bike It” officer. NG Informed the Forum that the Council had originally applied to Sustrans for funding but were unsuccessful.
JB – Did not see how the Alt Hill short span bridge could cost £137K
DC – Would like links to Daisy Nook Park from Park Bridge .

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