£2m cycleway plans move forward with road lanes ‘to be narrowed’

lans for a Coventry cycleway costing over £2 million have moved forward – but people are still split on whether or not it is a good idea. The 500 metre two-way track will be built on London Road in Whitley.

A city councillor agreed work could start on the near £2.4 million project yesterday, 18 September. Funding for the cycleway comes from a government grant and regional chiefs still need to approve the business case, meeting papers said.

But while some people filling in a survey on the scheme supported it, calling it a “positive step for the city,” a similar number were against the move. Critics claimed the cycleway would be a “waste of money” council papers said.

One said the council “seem obsessed with cycle lanes,” despite being “in financial difficulty.” Some also raised specific concerns that it would add to traffic problems in the area, while others believed it would not be used.

But council officers said the changes will encourage people to cycle and walk in the area and help tackle health inequalities. Plans show the cycleway will mainly be built on the highway and will stay separate from pedestrians.

Lanes for traffic will be narrowed but officers said this will not create any safety or congestion problems. Other changes to the road are also planned including removing the central reserve.

Lamp-posts and bus stops will be relocated, and a new right turn, crossing points and access points installed under the plans. But other concerns about how much residents will be involved with details of the scheme were raised at yesterday’s meeting.

Questions over local residents’ involvement

Cllr Richard Brown (Lab, Cheylesmore) praised officers’ for their efforts to involve locals in the scheme. But he said residents had been waiting to hear back when “all of a sudden” plans were set for approval, despite questions remaining.

He warned: “We are in danger of losing a huge amount of goodwill.” Keith Whitehead, who chairs a local resident group, said he was “shocked” to learn the plans would be rubber-stamped as further details were set to be shared at a meeting next month.

“The engagement process has been really good – up until now at least,” he said. There were calls for reassurance that residents can still have an input into the scheme.

Responding, an officer said there had “probably been a miscommunication” about the report’s aim. He said it is about showing the council’s intention and without it work cannot start.

He also said while the council will have to work within the red lines there is still “flexibility” and they can still discuss points of detail, including at the planned meeting. Head of Transport and Innovation, John Seddon, pointed out it is part of the wider ‘Coventry South package’ – £17 million worth of planned transport improvements along London Road funded by the government.

They are now halfway through the window of time when this money can be spent, he said. “For us, this is about progressing to the next phase of the scheme,” he added.

Cabinet Member for City Services, Cllr Patricia Hetherton (Lab, Radford) agreed that work could start on the cycle scheme as officers had recommended. She concluded: “It’s about taking it forward. We do know the ASDA roundabout has to change. It’s absolutely awful, I am desperate for work to start.”

But she also told those at the meeting: “What you want from us is assurances, we do keep our word.” She added: “What we don’t want is people feeling we are going forward and ignoring them at this late stage – that’s not going to happen, that can’t happen. We are working with you.”