Agenda and minutes

To follow

·       Improvements to Green Dragon Bridge. SN reported that signage on the approaches to the bridge was installed two weeks after commencement of the maintenance works. The signage is also not very visible and is therefore not helpful to either pedestrians or cyclists.

ACTION: CR to speak to the County Council’s Gareth Guest re. cycling arrangements during the works to be undertaken at Jesus Green Lock.

The issue of signage prompted a general point by Cllr Cantrill as to the need to co-ordinate signage on works with existing cycle signage on these important and frequently used routes through the city’s green spaces and over bridges. Cllr Cantrill called for the signage on Newnham Bridge to be changed as part of the renovations scheduled in March; removing the unhelpful ‘Cyclists Dismount’ sign.

i)      Wintercomfort

·       Winter Comfort – ‘Overstream Clean’ - Presentation by Social Enterprise Manager Rachel Newell.

Cllr Cantrill declared an interest as a trustee on the Wintercomfort Board and withdrew from the meeting.

Winter Comfort have been awarded LEP Challenge funding. The aim of this social enterprise initiative would be to get those furthest away from employment back into work. Funding is needed for up to15 bicycles to provide businesses and organisations within Cambridge with a mobile cleaning service. Bicycle courier company Outspoken have been approached regarding the provision of bikes built to carry all the necessary equipment etc. The Dutch Bike Company has been chosen as the preferred option however and it has been agreed the bikes could be fitted with lockable custom-made boxes. The addition of GPS tracking has also been explored for reasons of safety for lone workers etc. The total budget being applied for is £4,440.

CR enquired as to whether arrangements would be made to provide formal cycle training sessions. Rachel Newell confirmed Bikeability training for cargo bikes would be provided through Outspoken as well as advice on maintenance.

The Steering Group were unanimous in their support for this worthy scheme. It would help to promote cycling for business use which could potentially be applied across the country. Given current budgetary commitments however, the funding would need to come from the 2014-15 budget (subject to approval at Full Council).

All agreed the City Council logo should be displayed on the bikes and a press release provided on the launch of the scheme. The extent of the City Council’s involvement would need to be made clear.

·       Reworks’ Bikewiser Community Interest Company (discussed at the March 2013 meeting). Premises have now been found providing the go-ahead for this project. CR will need to ensure there have been no changes made since the proposal was presented.

·       Accordia bridge. Reserved Matters approval has been granted for the bridge although final approval will need to be sought from the City Council as landowner. This would require a consultation period according to AP as there are complex issues to resolve.

·       Chisholm Trail and Ring Fort Path                                PW

·       Cycle Ambition Grant Schemes                                     VK

·       Two-way cycling on one-way streets                            CR

·       Chisholm Trail. PR circulated a map. Officers are looking at linkages between the two Cambridge rail stations as well as wider links via the Guided Bus routes. An outline phased plan will be set up to examine deliverability and this will go out for early consultation with local cycle groups. Negotiation with Network Rail and Greater Anglia was on-going with regard to links through CB1. The establishing of a link between CB1 and Mill Road Bridge depends on further works such as demolition of a small building in liaison with Network Rail and land has been set aside as part of the Travis Perkins site application to allow for the route.

o   Infrastructure delivery (bridge). Various options are being explored for a new bridge over the Cam. Cllr Rosenstiel enquired as to whether such initiatives were being tied in with the closure of level crossings to vehicles. According to PR, once the Chisholm Trail is fully developed, routes between key areas will be largely off-road.

o   Links with Coldham’s Common Bridge. Officers will be considering improvements to the Cromwell Road junction should this proposal be explored further. The route across Coldham’s Common would need to be widened to accommodate increased cycle usage however. AP questioned the potential impact of a new bridge and its approach ramps etc. on Ditton Meadows. PR stressed that current plans were only indicative ahead of a detailed design phase.

·       Ring Fort Path. Officers are in the process of developing a feasibility study following significant support shown for the Cambridge Cycling Campaign’s proposal for a new path. Officers have been exploring various options and have been in discussions with landowners and other stakeholders. The stability of the embankment (created from earthworks following the redevelopment of the roundabout) will need to be thoroughly examined. A consultation phase will then follow although officers are confident discussions on the details can take place in due course.

·       Cycle Ambition Grant Schemes (VK). These are primarily intended to encourage new cyclists.

o   Huntingdon Road. A segregated cycle lane is proposed from north of Girton Road to Oxford Road. The scheme was not terminated at Storey’s Way due to strong public opinion. The consultation period will run from 26^th February to the end of March on the following segregation options:

1. hard kerb segregation (2.1m wide)

2. a hybrid option – raised cycle lane with no kerbing (such as proposed for the NIAB site)

3. a combination of the two.

The Group discussed the options and agreed that hard kerb segregation was preferable as it provides cyclists with greater safety. According to CR however, some of the more experienced cyclists oppose segregation as it may reduce overtaking capability.  AP expressed concern regarding segregation requiring a narrowing of the carriageway outside the city.

o   Hills Road improvements (between Cherry Hinton Road and Long Road). Consultation will again run 26^th February to the end of March. A hybrid 2.7m wide lane will be among the options proposed.

o   VK confirmed that the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

·       Perne Road improvements have been approved with work due to start in April.

·       Green Dragon Bridge. Officers are aware of the numerous sensitivities.

·       Jesus Green Cycle lane improvements. This has been approved with work due to start in March following the completion of the works on Jesus Green Lock. Officers have received very few objections.

Date of next meeting – 23/4/2014 proposed.