The report sets out the progress to date on the development of the Herefordshire Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) and seeks comments or recommendations on the plan before its completion in December 2023.

The Cabinet Member Transport and Infrastructure and the Interim Head of Transportation and Parking introduced the item.  The committee was advised that the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) was a strategic approach to identifying improvements, driven by data and analysis of commuting, leisure, and everyday trips.

The principal points of the discussion are summarised below:

1.           A committee member noted that the Technical Guidance for Local Authorities (link to the Department of Transport (DfT) guidance) suggested various data sources, with one being app-based data for existing cycle trips (e.g. Strava).  Comments were made about the potential over-reliance on app-based data and the need to mitigate related biases, including the possibility that certain groups of people could be missed, such as serving personnel who may avoid the use of geo-tagging apps.  The PJA Consultant provided the committee with an overview of the demand-led approach to identifying desire lines.

2.           The Interim Head of Transport and Parking reported that there would be engagement with some stakeholder groups on the LCWIP before broader consultation and engagement aligned to the Local Transport Plan (LTP) and the Local Plan.  With attention drawn to the LCWIP programme and progress (paragraph 10, agenda page 15), committee members expressed concerns about the lack of engagement to date and commented on the need for key stakeholders, including town and parish councils, to be enabled to input concerns and ideas.  The Chairperson considered that consultation on the LCWIP should be on a standalone basis and undertaken as soon as possible.

3.           The Cabinet Member Transport and Infrastructure acknowledged the need for effective engagement, including with stakeholders in rural areas, and the challenges associated with the timescales for key strategies and plans.

4.           The Interim Head of Transport and Parking reported that Herefordshire Council was working on cross-border linkages with neighbouring local authorities in Monmouthshire, Powys, and Shropshire as part of the Marches Forward Partnership.  It was noted that work was outstanding with Gloucestershire.  The Chairperson commented on the need to coordinate with all neighbouring authorities.

5.           The Vice-Chairperson noted that a key output would be ‘a prioritised programme of infrastructure improvements for future investment’ (paragraph 31 b, agenda page 19) and suggested that this could be considered for future scrutiny activity.

6.           The Interim Head of Transport and Parking reported that cycling and walking network mapping had not yet been received; the consultant, Phil Jones Associates (PJA), was auditing possible cycling routes to confirm that they were achievable.

7.           In response to a comment about the interfaces between cycle routes and busy roads, the Service Director Environment and Highways provided an outline of the proposed infrastructure improvements on Holme Lacy Road in Hereford.

8.           The Interim Head of Transport and Parking advised the committee that the outputs from the LCWIP would help to inform the LTP; evidence would be assessed in relation to different ideas (e.g. a north to south cycle route, utilising disused railway lines, etc), including opportunities to attract investment.  The Chairperson commented on the level of local interest in greenways in several locations but expressed concern that this would not be reflected in the data on existing commuting, leisure, and everyday trips.

9.           The Vice-Chairperson noted that £60k had been allocated to PJA to develop the LCWIP and a breakdown of the spending was requested.  The Senior Project Manager reported that £10k had been committed towards consultation and additional funding of £33k had been received from Active Travel England.  Committee members emphasised the importance of pro-active engagement with local groups and communities to explore ideas and challenges (e.g. securing co-operation from multiple landowners).  It was acknowledged that the council should be ambitious in scope in the best interests of Herefordshire.

10.        The PJA Consultant advised that reference to ‘distances of 2km and 10km illustrate the reachable areas by walking and cycling’ (paragraph 13 b ii, agenda page 16) related to DfT guidance but the Propensity to Cycle Tool (PCT) and, some of the routes being explored, did take into account the wider use of e-bikes in the future.  The committee was also advised that the technical guidance was being updated by the DfT, partly in response to representations made by rural authorities.

11.        With attention drawn to the sentence that the Hereford City Masterplan ‘contains the LCWIP which extends the city boundary and identifies key links into the rest of the county’ (paragraph 4, agenda page 14), the Chairperson requested that clarification be provided about the nature and timing of engagement and consultation on the LCWIP elements of the masterplan.

At the conclusion of the debate, the committee discussed potential recommendations and the following resolution was agreed.

Resolved:  That it be recommended to the executive:

1.           That more and better secondary data be used, particularly that data beyond Strava is used for leisure, and that the LCWIP states and mitigates biases in that data.

2.           That public consultation be done, including but not limited to city, town and parish councils, walking and cycling groups, key local institutions and employers, in line with DfT LCWIP engagement guidance, and

a.           that significant funds be allocated to do this (noting that there is potentially £43k already available for this exercise);

b.           that this is done ASAP and certainly commenced before the end of this calendar year; that such consultation is done on a standalone basis without waiting for LTP and Local plan consultation;

c.           that such consultation acknowledges that in many cases there may be synergies between LCWIP and wider highway maintenance and improvements.

3.           That consultation is done on the LCWIP elements of the Hereford City Masterplan ASAP.

4.           That Herefordshire Council coordinates with neighbouring local authorities sooner rather than later both in terms of information gathering and consultation on potential routes.

5.           That potential long distance routes including greenways are included in the LCWIP consultation and development process.

6.           That the cycle network plan and walking network plan be published to scrutiny ASAP.

7.           That a breakdown of the spending with PJA be provided.