1 week Ago
A report is due to come out at the end of this month into a controversial new walking and cycling project in an east Suffolk town. A consultation process has been taking place throughout January in Woodbridge town centre concerning the Active Travel scheme and the results of this process are due to come out at the end of the month. Initially, the Active Travel Woodbridge plans had included the potential creation of a 20mph zone in the south of the town and town centre, along with physical restrictions such as bollards to close sections of Bilney Road, Bullard's Lane, California and near the railway bridge in Sandy Lane.
Time running out to have say on controversial Active Travel Woodbridge scheme However, Suffolk County Council changed the plans to include traffic calming measures instead of bollards and an "emphasis on traffic survey work to investigate the possibility of more 20mph speed limits". There will also be upgraded and improved crossings and more improvements to footpaths in the town. The revised strategy followed a series of public engagement events with local residents between February and April, which were attended by 2,200 people, while the council also received 3,500 pieces of written feedback through an online consultation.
However, residents feared the safety of pedestrians - especially the older and less mobile - could be compromised by sharing paths with cyclists. Active Travel Woodbridge scheme has been watered down One opponent of the scheme said: "Shared pathways will only lead to injuries. Already the cycles ride in the town centre with no respect for pedestrians.
The one-way system often ignored. "I have personally witnessed cycles causing the elderly to dodge out of the way and collisions. "I have myself almost been knocked over more than once and it isn’t easy for an elderly person to quickly change the direction of walking without pain or injury.
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