Havering Cyclists have reacted with shock and disappointment at the news that a key safety scheme at Marsh Way in Rainham is to be scrapped.
You will recall that we had been calling for this scheme since 2020 after being contacted by NHS workers needing safer access to the CEME centre and our efforts were stepped up following the deaths of two cyclists in separate incidents in 2021.
The scheme which had passed through its full public consultation and was about to be implemented would have provided a new safe connection between the cycle paths along the A1306 and those cycle paths already existing on the industrial estates off of Marsh Way including the CEME centre.
The scheme was to have been funded entirely by the Thames Gateway Project and by TfL with no funding being required from Havering Council.
We wrote last week to council leader Cllr Keith Prince saying:
“As previously mentioned, there were calls for action on the safety of Marsh Way long before the deaths occurred but while the administration of the day could reasonably argue that they did not have the resources to address the issue, that would not be the case going forwards.
Honestly, how will we carry the guilt if further deaths occur on Marsh Way knowing that we had a fully (externally) funded solution planned and ready to implement but then turned our backs?
I ask you again to reconsider this.”
A reply was received yesterday (25 October) from Cllr Benjamins on behalf of Cllr Prince but we believe that the reasoning behind the decision to cancel the project is misguided.
We hope that the council will engage in further discussions that will lead to a resolution.
Full details of the scheme as it was planned along with the consultation details are shown HERE.