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ITEM EX18

EXECUTIVE – 30 APRIL 2002

CYCLE LINK FROM THAME TO HADDENHAM AND THAME PARKWAY RAILWAY STATION

Report by the Director of Environmental Services

Introduction

  1. This report outlines a proposal to introduce a new cycle link between Thame and Haddenham and Thame Parkway railway station (Bucks) as listed in the ‘Provisional Sustainable Transport Programme 2003/04’ (reported to the Executive on 17 April 2002 in the ‘Transport Capital Programme 2002/03 to 2004/05’). Local community groups are concerned about current cycling conditions along this route and have called for this scheme. A recent survey conducted at the railway station further verifies support. This proposal would also combine well with other existing and proposed cycle facilities in the locality. Because of the unusual circumstance of a cycle link going across the county boundary and requiring joint funding on a 50/50 basis with Buckinghamshire County Council, the Executive is asked to support this scheme in principle prior to any feasibility study and public consultation taking place. A second report will be brought forward to the Executive after consultation seeking approval for the detailed design of the scheme.

    2. Background

  2. Oxfordshire County Council’s Cycling Strategy outlines the ongoing ‘Cycle and Rail’ initiative. This aims to encourage more rail commuters to cycle to railway stations rather than use a car for that leg of their journey. The strategy (page 11) mentions a proposed link from Thame to the Haddenham and Thame Parkway station to be undertaken by Sustrans.

  3. The original Sustrans proposal would have used mainly bridleways across fields between Thame and Haddenham. The purpose would have been primarily for leisure cycling. With flooding and land ownership issues making this route difficult to implement, the scheme has subsequently been dropped.

    4. Local Support

  4. Nevertheless, the desire for a link still remains. The Thame based Better Ways to School group has said that the highest priority for Thame is a link to the railway station. The Haddenham Village Society and Parish Council Safe Walking and Cycling Group are also very keen to have this cycle link. A meeting was instigated last September by this latter group between representatives of Oxfordshire County Council, Buckinghamshire County Council, Chiltern Railways, Thame Better Ways to School Group and the local Ramblers Association. An alternative route along Thame Road and the A418 was agreed (see map - Annex 1). It was felt that this route would serve a wider range of journey purposes than the original Sustrans proposal.

  5. The A418 between Thame and the railway station has a 60mph speed limit and no cycling provision at all on the road. As such, current conditions provide a very real barrier to what could be an extremely well used route.

    6. Survey of Rail Passengers at Haddenham and Thame Parkway Station

  6. To more fully establish whether there is a real need in the locality for such a scheme, a survey was carried out of rail passengers at Haddenham and Thame Parkway station on 21 March 2002. To summarise briefly the results from the survey suggest support for the scheme from those who live in Thame and Haddenham. It should be noted that the catchment area for the station is large and that 55% of those questioned came from further afield than Thame and Haddenham. Nevertheless of the respondents from Thame, 71% said they would consider cycling to the station regularly or occasionally (75% would use the cycle link for other cycle journeys). Whilst many residents in Haddenham currently walk to the station, 31% would consider cycling to the station regularly or occasionally and 69% would use this link for other cycle journeys (such as leisure trips to Thame). Full details of the survey are given in Annex 2.

    7. Advantages of the scheme

  7. It only takes approximately 20 minutes to cycle from Thame town centre (Butter Market) to the railway station. Short journeys are increasingly being undertaken by car. A cycling facility would therefore offer local residents intending to travel by train a real choice of whether to cycle or go by car to the station. Further, Chiltern Railways are proposing to double the size of the station building and provide a waiting room, improved bus facilities, a covered walkway, many cycle racks and also cycle lockers.

  8. There has been a general growth in rail patronage in recent years which has put pressure on car parking. It would be useful to provide a facility that will help to slow the demand for any future car parking required in the locality.

  9. The ‘Phoenix Trail’, opened by Sustrans last summer, forms part of the National Cycle Network and links Thame to Princes Risborough. Tourism and economic benefits have resulted generally from the National Network. A good quality link from the Network to the railway station would help cycling tourists access the locality.

  10. Oxfordshire County Council has recently commissioned Babtie to draw up proposals for a Thame town cycle network. The link from Thame to the railway station would be seen as an important addition to the town network. As the town network will link with the National Cycle Network mentioned above, this would provide very comprehensive opportunities for both leisure and utility cyclists in the locality.

  11. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the ‘Phoenix Trail’ has already increased cycling generally in the area. There are also Better Ways to Schools initiatives currently underway in Thame which will encourage more cycling by children. If a cycling culture can be developed, such as that in Oxford, then this may greatly contribute to a modal shift by car users without the need for more negative car restraint measures.

    12. Financial Implications

  12. Buckinghamshire County Council have indicated that they are willing to fund this link on condition that Oxfordshire County Council provide 50% of the funding. A very approximate estimate of the cost of the scheme is £350,000. Chiltern Railways are willing to finance the provision of improved cycle parking at the railway station.

  13. The map (see Annex 1) indicates the location of the county boundary along this proposed route. At first sight it would appear that Oxfordshire County Council should only fund the link up to the boundary which would be significantly less than the 50% asked for by Buckinghamshire County Council. However, the survey in Annex 2 indicates that more Thame residents would use this facility for utility journeys than would Haddenham residents (71% of Thame respondents and only 31% of Haddenham respondents). Since these journeys are likely to be more frequent than other types of journey, Thame residents are likely to get more use from the facility than Haddenham residents. A 50% contribution to the costs would therefore appear to represent value for money.

    14.   Next Steps

  14. Given the small sample gathered from local residents in the recent survey, it is intended that a questionnaire survey also be carried out at the public exhibition to further verify demand. As with other cycle schemes the results of this would be reported to the Executive before progression to the detailed design stage of work.

    15. RECOMMENDATIONS

  15. The Executive is RECOMMENDED to:-

          1. agree to the development of a jointly funded scheme (as shown in Annex 1) with Buckinghamshire County Council on a 50/50 basis;

          2. authorise a joint public consultation with Buckinghamshire County Council; and

          3. note that a further report will be brought forward to the Executive following consultation, prior to seeking approval for implementation of the scheme.

DAVID YOUNG
Director of Environmental Services

Background papers: Nil

Contact Officer: Victoria Sowter – Tel: Oxford 815764

April 2002

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