Hello fellow cyclist!
A Happy New Year to you!
I hope you’re enjoying getting out on your bike riding for work, shopping or for some exercise but meanwhile, Havering Cyclists have been campaigning and raising local cycling issues. Please read on for details.
| LOCAL ELECTIONS 2026 |
| Given that local authorities control all of the roads on which cycle lanes and infrastructure could be placed, these elections are really important to us. Our campaign this year will be a simple ask: Streets For Cycling – every London borough needs a safe, connected cycle network, so cycling is safe everywhere, and fun for everyone. Please look out for messages from us presenting opportunities to get involved in the coming weeks and months. |
| HORNCHURCH STATION PARKING |
| The long-awaited plans to provide secure cycle parking lockers at Hornchurch Station had suffered a series of setbacks but we are pleased to announce that the one new locker has now been provided. If you would like to use the parking, access is provided via an app and more details are here: Homepage | Cyclehoop |
| TWENTY’S PLENTY |
| Havering council has been looking at expanding the number of streets with 20mph speed limits and the suggestions we had made of where we would like to see more 20 mph limits to create corridors of calmer routes have been rejected in favour of a “zones” approach so that individual wards can opt in or out of the scheme. This is not our preference but we can only hope that people in the areas not included will see the benefits and demand inclusion at a later stage. With local councillors having the final say in whether schemes go ahead, it would be great if we could all write to our local councillors to show our support for them. More about our position on 20mph limits is on our website at Twenty’s Plenty For Havering – Havering Cyclists |
| MARSH WAY IMPROVEMENTS |
| The project to provide a section of segregated cycle path on Marsh Way on the railway bridge and to give much improved access to the CEME centre and surrounding industrial and further improvements along Marsh Way is progressing. The project funding agreement is now complete and the work is expected to be start this month with the completion expected now by June 2026. This is an important improvement that we have been pushing for since the tragic deaths of two cyclists in 2021. |
| QUIETWAYS |
| We mentioned before that work is underway to develop four “Quietways” (or “Cycleways” in the latest parlance). Two roughly following the existing LCN58 north from Romford to Collier Row and LCN58 south from Romford to Rainham, one roughly following LCN15 from Rush Green to Upminster and lastly from Romford to Harold Hill. Funding has now been approved from the Cycle Network Development Fund. |
| MAIN ROAD |
| Plans are afoot for Havering’s one significant piece of decent cycling infrastructure that runs beside Main Road, Romford for all of 200 metres, to be extended further into Gidea Park. Every little helps, eh? |
| FREE CYCLE MAINTENANCE TRAINING |
| Our cycle maintenance training programme for 2025 went very well with sessions delivered to the public at Albyns Depot as well as to The Compass School in Romford. These sessions have been very popular and we hope to be able to run more next year but this will depend on funding being available. |
| DARTFORD CROSSING |
| You recall that the access path to the crossing control point on the Essex side of the Dartford Crossing has been closed and the control point moved by National Highways due to high air pollution. We have been told that NH is in discussions with Thurrock council to see if there is a way to create safe access from the Stonehouse Lane Roundabout along London Road to the new control point. We await further news. |
SOUTHEND ARTERIAL ROAD
| It transpired that TfL have declared that they have no record of the cycle paths along the A127 and therefore are not accepting reports on any defects. We have approached Walking and Cycling Commissioner Will Norman with evidence of its history and he has responded to say that his team are looking into the issue and whether improvements such as the link to NCN136 can be made. We await further news. |
| FUTURE EVENTS |
| We run rides, bike checking events and we hold regular face-to-face meetings. We even have the odd social evening. Please let us know if you would like to let you know directly about these events. |
| SUPPORT OUR WORK |
| Decent routes for cycling do not happen by accident. They have to be fought for. You can help us by supporting us on social media, by joining with us on our activities and by joining Havering Cyclists where your membership subscriptions will help fund our work. Please help us continue. https://www.haveringcyclists.org/join-us/ Remember that you can sign up for news updates from our blog at https://www.haveringcyclists.org/blog/ by completing the subscription box in the right-hand panel. Please also get in touch to let us know your views on any of the above. You can contact us through our website www.haveringcyclists.org, through Facebook (Havering cyclists) or Bluesky (@cyclehavering.bsky.social). We have an email discussion group at Cycle Forum Havering – Google Groups so please let us know if you would like to be added. |
Does the point above regarding the A127 mean that my constant reporting of both the state of the drains along the A127 from Hall Lane to the M25 has been a waste of my time ? I get responses that these have been cleared, but nothing seems to have changed. They still remain blocked and this causes the large puddle one the Hall Lane junction.
I also report the sand and dirt on the path and the mud on the path by the Folkes Lane junction which judging by the tyre tracks is caused by vehicles coming out of Folkes Lane and using the footpath to make their own slip road. These vehicles join the main carriageway over a drain and is one of the reasons why that drain is blocked
Hi Philip,
I’m sure it’s not a waste of time but if they are not taking the actions that they said they have done, then that in itself is worth reporting as something is going wrong in their process.
And thanks for taking the time to take up these issues.
Best regards