Object
Preferred Options
Representation ID: 49157
Received: 23/07/2012
Respondent: Karen Ward
I understand that there has been a proposal to create a cycle path through Abbey Fields.
Small children - proposed route will attract more cyclists in area where there are small children playing/running freely. At present WDC web site markets Abbey Fields as a no-cylcing zone - such a proposal has potential to change whole character of Fields and free play enjoyment & safety of small children.
Monitoring - anyone who uses main road between Kenilworth & Coventry will know not all cyclists use cycle pathways, and for those who do not all move to road when path ends but remain on pedestrian pathway. Raises concern of individuals keeping to designated pathways, or whether would be same disregard by some.
As residents of High Street we already have some cyclists using 'no cycling pathway' down to Church from High Street showing no respect for walkers or for members of church congreation.
Landscape - Given visibility in some areas of Fields and gradient of proposed route the presence of cyclists will lead to accidents/injury for cyclists and non-cyclists.
Aesthetics - Abbey fields is area of natural beauty attracting visitors & revenue. Carving up new pathway / extending existing pathway will leave permenent scar on fields and potentially turn it into 'rat run'.
Parking - Should this go ahead parking bays for bikes will be required taking more space from already congested car park by St Nicolas Church.
Cost - Monies required to fund this to be re-directed into funding extension of cycle pathways adjacent to pavements running up Rosemary Hill.
While idea of extending cycling routes is commendable,urge that alternative, road linked, routes investigated.
I understand that there has been a proposal to create a cycle path through Abbey Fields.
My family have a number of concerns:
1. Small children - the proposed route will attract more cyclists into the park in an area where there are small children playing and running freely. At present the WDC web site markets Abbey Fields as a no-cylcing zone - such a proposal has the potential to change the whole character of the Fields and the free play enjoyment & safety of small children.
2. Monitoring - anyone who uses the main road between Kenilworth & Coventry will know that not all cyclists use the cycle pathways, and for those who do not all move to the road when the path ends but remain on the pedestrian pathway. This raises the concern of individuals keeping to designated pathways, or whether we would witness the same disregard by some cyclists for walkers, once more raising concerns for safety. As residents of High Street Kenilworth we already have some cyclists using the 'no cycling pathway' down to the Church from the High Street - they do not show respect for any walkers or for members of the congreation outside the church.
3. Landscape - Given the visibility in some areas of the Fields and the gradient of the proposed route the presence of cyclists will inevitably lead to accidents and injury for cyclists and non-cyclists alike.
4. Aesthetics - Abbey fields is an area of natural beauty attracting many visitors & revenue to the area. To carve up a new pathway / extend an existing pathway will leave a permenent scar on the fields and potentially turn it into a 'rat run'.
5. Parking - presumably should this go ahead parking bays for bikes will be required, potentially taking more space from an already congested car park by St Nicolas Church.
6. Cost - The monies required to fund this to be re-directed into funding an extension of cycle pathways adjacent to pavements running up Rosemary Hill.
While the idea of extending cycling routes is commendable, we would urge that alternative, road linked, routes are investigated.