Cycling improvements for parks and canals proposed
A package of improvements to cycle paths along canals and through parks worth £3million is set for approval by Birmingham City Council’s Cabinet on May 18.
The work, part of the council’s Birmingham Cycle Revolution initiative, will see 13km of routes upgraded – complementing the 41km already completed since the programme began in 2013.
If approved, it is expected the work will be carried out between June and December at the following sites:
Canal Works
• Grand Union Canal (South Yardley / Acocks Green Wards):
Extension of towpath works already underway between Bordesley Junction and Stockfield Road, to include the section from Stockfield Road to Lincoln Road (Solihull boundary). This includes works in South Yardley and Acocks Green Wards. Approx length 2km, estimated cost £0.413m.
• Tame Valley Canal (Perry Barr / Oscott Wards):
Completion of towpath works from Deykin Avenue (end of previously approved scheme) and Old Walsall Road (Walsall boundary). Approx length 5.5km, estimated cost £1.375m.
Green Routes
• River Tame Way (Handsworth Wood Ward):
A further extension to the route completed in 2014, covering Old Walsall Road (Hamstead Station) to Wood End. (Note that further extensions beyond Wood End are dependent upon completion of a flood alleviation scheme by the Environment Agency and so are unlikely to take place within the current BCR programme). Approx length 1.5km, estimated cost £0.207m.
• Sandwell Valley Country Park – Silvercroft Avenue (H. Wood Ward):
Resurfacing and improved drainage to an existing path running from the park entrance at Friary Road (off Oxhill Road) towards Hilltop Golf Course entrance, and connecting to other existing paths leading to the Sandwell side of the park. Approx length 1.5km, estimated cost £0.466m.
• Alexander Stadium (Perry Barr Ward):
A new path from the Tame Valley Canal at the existing bridge / access near Rowdale Road to link to the existing surfaced paths near the Stadium car park. (Note that an improvement to the canal access and around the bridge will form part of a later phase to the BCR programme). Approx length 0.5km, estimated cost £0.072m.
• Harborne Walkway (Harborne, Edgbaston, Soho & Ladywood Wards):
Upgrade to the existing unsealed (crushed stone) surface from the start of the route at Park Hill Road to Summerfield Park, including improved access ramps. Approx length 2.0km, estimated cost £0.507m.
Cllr Lisa Trickett, Cabinet Member for a Green, Smart and Sustainable City, said: “This package of improvements will build on the upgrades already carried out to our off-road cycling network – helping make it easier to get around in Birmingham by bike.
“We’ve still got an extensive programme of works scheduled for on-road routes as well as supporting measures such as cycle training and the Big Birmingham Bikes scheme, which will combine to make cycling an attractive, affordable and healthy mode of transport in the city.
“This work is also a small but significant piece of the bigger Birmingham Connected project, which gives the city a structured long-term plan for sustainable transport of all types. The motor vehicle has an important role to play in the city but we need to ensure we meet future needs by unlocking the potential of other modes of transport too.”
The work on the canal towpaths will be carried out by the Canal and River Trust, which owns and manages the canal network. The green routes work within parks will be led by the council’s Landscape Practice Group.
ENDS
Notes to editors
1. The Birmingham Cycle Revolution programme seeks to promote sustainable travel options by increasing the attractiveness of cycling, which will contribute towards improving health and the environment, reducing car usage, and improving connectivity for households without a car. Many of the measures will also benefit pedestrians, public transport users and road safety.
The successful funding bids to the Department for Transport included targets to increase cycling by 27 per cent in the BCR area (a 20-minute cycling time of the city centre) by 2016 as a contribution towards achieving targets of 5 per cent of all journeys being made by cycle by 2023 and 10 per cent of all journeys by 2033, compared with less than 2 per cent at present.
2. Investment in the Birmingham Cycle Revolution is currently profiled as follows:
Phase One: £17million from the DfT’s Cycle City Ambition Grant scheme, topped up by local funding to reach a total of £24.3million
Phase Two: An allocation £8million for 2015-19 through the LEPs Local Growth Fund (£6million) topped up by £2million locally contribution)
Phase Three: £22.1million from the Department for Transports Cycle City Ambition Grant scheme, topped up by £7.9million of locally-sourced funding.
For more media information please contact Kris Kowalewski on 0121 303 3621
