Picture courtesy of Sustrans.
Season’s Greetings to you!
With the cold and chill now upon us, I hope you’re wrapping up warmly and still enjoying getting out on your bike riding for work, shopping or for some exercise but meanwhile, Havering Cyclists have still been campaigning and raising local cycling issues. Please read on for details.
In this news posting we have:
- An update on our Five Asks
- An update on cycle parking
- Bicycle donations
- Our Havering Cyclists winter social event
EASTERN ROAD TRAFFIC SCHEME You may recall that a scheme had been brought forward to resolve this dangerous and long-standing gap in London Cycle Network route 12 (LCN12) between Havana Close and Eastern Road across South Street. We understand that the objections to the scheme raised by taxi drivers had been overruled and that it is about to be implemented but we await further news on exactly when this will happen.
FIVE ASKS UPDATE We are still seeing some progress on the Five Asks that we campaigned on for the 2022 local elections.
Improvements on Marsh Way had been delayed by new ‘internal governance procedures’ but approval has now been given to tender for a ‘feasibility study’ into improvements to the junction including cycling improvements. The work is expected to take place next year.
This year, the council had consulted on a further 18 more School Street schemes but due to negative feedback from the residents, only three will be going ahead.
The council has moved forwards with providing residential cycle parking in the form of cycle lockers and £66K funding for 2023/24 at 9 locations had been proposed but we are yet to see any of this in place. A further £54K is proposed for 2024/25 There is no progress to date on our Dangerous Junctions ask.
RE-CYCLE BIKE DONATIONS We are pleased to announce that we have become a drop-off point for Re-Cycle which is a scheme that sends donated bikes to Africa for reuse. If you have a bike that is no longer needed, please get in touch and we will find it a good home or go to Re-cycle directly for further instructions.
GALLOWS CORNER The long-awaited plans to overhaul this hazardous junction have been published but sadly they take no account of the measures that we had asked for to make it safer for walkers and cyclists. We have joined forces with our friends at Better Streets For Havering to escalate the plans’ shortcomings with TfL.
REVIEWS OF LCN12 AND NCN136 Our reported list of issues arising from our inspection rides is with council officers and they tell us that they now have budget assigned to rectify them.
MUSOOD KARIM Former Cycling Officer and council Highways Planning Officer Musood Karim, with whom we had been working over many years had sadly, after a long illness, passed away. At our last campaign meeting we held a minute’s silence as a tribute to him and the many years he had assisted the group.
HAVERING CYCLISTS SOCIAL We are planning a social event for mid-January involving a meal and drinks at the Fatling in Hornchurch. All are welcome so please get in touch if you would like to come along.
CYCLE LIAISON GROUP MEETINGS We have had our last CLG meeting with Havering Council and a new meeting, the Active Travel Forum will begin in the new year. The new meeting will hopefully include input from other non-motoring groups such as walkers.
FESTIVE LED RIDES Our friends at Cycleconfident are working in partnership with Havering Council to lead a number of rides over the festive season. Please register here if you would like to join in: https://www.cycleconfident.com/sponsors/havering/
HORNCHURCH STATION PARKING The plans are now made for two secure cycle parking lockers like the one pictured to be placed at Hornchurch Station and we await details of implementation dates.
POTHOLE PATROL We are at the time of year when the roads are showing signs of wear and the weather and many potholes are appearing. If you as a cyclist have suffered injury or damage due to any in the borough, please drop us a line with the details and be sure to report it to the council: https://www.havering.gov.uk/info/20026/roads/98/damaged_roads_and_pavements
KEEP IN TOUCH 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 you views on any of the above. You can contact us through our website www.haveringcyclists.org, through Facebook (Havering cyclists) or Twitter (@HaveringCyclist).
Many thanks,
Terry Hughes
Havering Cyclists