Dear all,

Some news.

Our future, Your say

I attended the North Herts District Council's Local Strategic Partnership Workshop in September (organised by the CTC's very own Jim Brown in his day job). The workshop was aimed at finding out what the public think are our priorities local government. It was very well attended by representatives from a broad range of interest groups. There was a surprising consensus of priorities with environmental and transport concerns coming top of the list in pretty well all of the work groups.

The consultation process is not over. I received a questionnaire in the post yesterday, again asking what I think NHDC's priorities should be. Copies of this questionnaire can be downloaded from NHDC's website at:

http://www.north-herts.gov.uk/scs_questionnaire.pdf
Please take a few moments to download and fill it out. This is your opportunity to tell the council that you want improvements in walking and cycling, or indeed any other area that you feel needs to be prioritised. If you don't tell the council what you want, you can't complain when you don't get it so please respond positively to this initiative, it will only take a few moments. More information at:

http://www.north-herts.gov.uk/lsp
There will be a consultation meeting in Hitchin on 5 December, one in Ickleford on 13 December and one in Letchworth on 10 December. See the web page above for details

Please forward this email to any North Herts resident who you think would be interested.

Connect2

Hopefully you will all have heard of Sustrans' bid for £50 million of funding from the Big Lottery. This depends on a televised / internet vote. Sustrans' Connect2 project aims to build bridges to connect communities severed by major roads, railways and rivers. 79 communities will benefit, in our area a new subway under the rail line in Royston, bridges across the Ouse at St Neots, across the Cam near Cambridge, and across the A10 near the Olympic Park at Hoddesdon.

Sustrans is up against bids by the Eden Project, Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre, and the Black Country park. All are worthy projects but none will bring such wide ranging benefits as Sustrans' bid. Please take the time to vote. More information at:

www.sustransconnect2.org.uk
Voting on line is already started at The People's £50 Million Website (you need to register first) open until 10 December.

Sustrans' Connect2 will also be the subject of a television programme on ITV1 at 11pm Tuesday 4th December. Telephone votes can be cast 7-10 December.

Hitchin Market Redevelopment
I was recently approached by an Architect who has been commissioned to look at rejuvenating and redeveloping the Churchgate / Market / St Mary's Square area. Interestingly she had come across my name through various cycle planning / campaigning e-groups and wanted to bounce ideas off me from a cyclist's perspective. I can't say too much, since I was approached in confidence, and at present there is actually very little to tell. My own comments were as below:

"Thanks for sending me the info on Northampton Market. This looks very much as I believe Hitchin's market should be - in the heart of the town, focused on the Market square with tentacles extending down the surrounding streets (High Street, Sun Street, around the church and into Bancroft).

An alternative to the trailer mounted stands might be to have a single contractor put up modular stands in the morning and strike them again at the end of the day. That would reduce the numbers of vehicles needed, although stall holders would of course still need vehicle access to set up their wares.

With regard to the existing market site and car park, a mixed use development seems ideal. It would need to be permeable to pedestrians and cyclists and would want to have buildings fronting onto all of the surrounding streets to give them a much more active, inhabited feel. Portmill Lane is currently just a car park access with nothing but back yards off it, and Queens Road is overly wide and hostile.

All the main routes in Hitchin are rather hostile for pedestrians and cyclists - particularly the one way gyratories at Paynes Park and Hollow Lane. They need a serious makeover, losing road space and guard rails.

I am attaching details of the proposed Hitchin cycle network (adopted 1999), as yet virtually no progress has been made on this."

Tina, I would be grateful if you could add the above to the campaign page (is it working now, recent updates don't seem to have appeared). Alternatively, can we email, particularly to North Herts resident members ?

Colin / David - likewise for Nomads forum.

Regards
 
 
 
Alasdair Massie
CTC RtR North Herts

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