Responding to your concerns

We’ve consulted on this scheme three times – once to establish the principle of building the route in this location, then twice more to shape the final design. Since October 2022, we’ve been considering your feedback and making changes to address the concerns that some of you have raised.

This has been a lengthy process as we’ve had a lot of discussion with Active Travel England (ATE), who are funding the scheme, and our designers to balance the needs of all road users while continuing to meet ATE’s criteria for funding the project.

We know not everyone can walk, wheel or cycle, and many trips are too long to expect others to do this all the time, so we’ve ensured that the final design caters for all road users while meeting its original objective.

Having redesigned the scheme based on feedback, our designers produced detailed designs and completed costing exercises. This meant a further redesign was then required to ensure the scheme stays within budget.

Key changes to the originally proposed layout include:

• Widening the carriageway along Woodlands Avenue to 5.5m along the section from Howth Drive to Crockhamwell Road
• Keeping the existing laybys along the section of Woodlands Avenue which is adjacent to the park
• Keeping the existing shared path along the western end of Woodlands Avenue. This will reduce the cost to ensure the scheme remains affordable, and many of you highlighted that this section was already working well. While the shared path doesn’t meet the latest design standards (officially known as LTN 1/20), it is appropriate to leave it until further funding becomes available
• Shared use under the railway bridge to the Palmer Park entrance has also been amended, with westbound motor vehicles giving way to oncoming traffic

Having consulted three times, we now feel the final design addresses most of your concerns while significantly improving walking, wheeling and cycling provision. This supports our long-term aim of encouraging more people to travel in this way.