Page last updated at 15:27 GMT, Monday, November 15 2010

Crestwood Cycleways - Shakespeare Road to Woodside Avenue (Phase1)

Site Record

Combined use footway/cycle-way

The proposal is to construct a new shared pedestrian/cycle route to complete the 'missing links' along the eastern side of Woodside Avenue.  The route is proposed to follow;

• from the entrance to Crestwood School on Shakespeare Road to the corner of Woodside Avenue.
• at the corner of Shakespeare Road and Woodside Avenue in the grassed verge up to the existing Bus Stop opposite Launceston Drive.
• widening and converting the existing footway from the bus stop opposite Launceston Drive to the new development at Crestwood View.
• to run the route along Woodside Avenue between the north and south accesses to the new development.
• the north west corner of the development, in a northerly direction to link into existing facilities at the pelican crossing.

It is anticipated that the addition of a 'missing link' will benefit a range of local residents.

Crestwood View

The new housing development at Crestwood View is now complete and almost fully occupied. The only access to the development is via Woodside Avenue which has a 40mph speed limit. Apart from access to the southbound bus stop opposite Launceston Drive, pedestrians and cyclists from Crestwood View would need to cross Woodside Avenue as they leave the development and then re-cross further south to access local services and facilities.  This presents an unnecessary road safety risk and in many instances, takes the resident away from the desire line to access local shops and involves an increase in walking/cycling distance.   Without alternative measures this may encourage the use of their cars for those short journeys, rather than a more sustainable mode.

Crestwood School

Crestwood Community College are currently undergoing a review of their school travel plan and a travel survey of students at the college has indicated that the following incentives on the highway would encourage them walk or cycle to school more.  These are:

• To be able to walk with less traffic around them
• To be able to use safer road crossing points
• To be able to walk on wider footways
• To be able to cycle with less traffic around
• To have more cycle routes around the school
• To have the use of safer road crossings

The provision of a the proposed new section of footway/cycle-way would address a good number of these points.

• Plan of Route

Crestwood View to Lydiard Close Green (Phase 2)

Combined use foot/cycle path

This proposal is a complementary scheme to the Woodside Avenue pedestrian and cycle access improvement outlined above.  The new foot/cycle path will run along the northern boundary of Crestwood College’s playing field between the tree line . The College’s security is an important issue and therefore, when the boundary fence is relocated it will be replaced with a more substantial 1.8 metre  item to match the existing at the new development.

As part of the construction process the existing boundary fence will be remove along with sections of existing foliage to clear the area and open up what is considered a secluded environment.

• Plan of Route