New Havant to Hayling Island cycle route will join up the ‘missing link’
CYCLING between Havant and Hayling Island is about to get easier as new cycle routes are set to be installed.
Since 2003 cyclists have been able to ride along the pavement over Langstone Bridge, sharing the space with pedestrians.
But at both the north and south end, the cycle way has stopped abruptly because the pavement becomes more narrow.
It meant that cyclists had to either dismount or join the busy traffic.
Now Havant Borough Council plans to make 40 yards of pavement on the northern side of the crossing for shared use by both pedestrians and cyclists.
A new section of track is also set to be built for cyclists at Langstone away from the busy road.
And plans are afoot to tackle the southern end of the bridge where cyclists currently have to dismount.
Once completed it will mean there will be a continuous off-road cycle route between Havant and Hayling along the Hayling Billy Trail, a popular cycling and walking route along the old Havant and South Hayling Railway Line.
Hayling Cllr Andy Lenaghan, also a keen cyclist, said: ‘This will make it a lot safer and user-friendly to save people having to dismount when they reach the other side of the bridge.
‘At the moment you have to cycle off a dropped kerb into the flow of traffic.
‘It’s dangerous at the moment.’
But some cyclists criticised the scheme and said it does not go far enough to help them get safely on and off the island.
They say the pathway is still too narrow.
Paul Fisher, committee member for Cycle Hayling, is pushing for a separate leisure bridge for cyclists.
Mr Fisher said: ‘It’s just a cheap way of addressing a serious issue which they don’t take seriously.’
Steve Mountain, the council’s special projects engineer, said a leisure bridge was not financially viable in the current climate and said this scheme would make it a safer journey.
He said although the 40 yards of pavement which is set to become a cycle route was narrow, it was only a short section and was therefore safe.
He said: ‘We have some money which we can achieve a solution with.
‘What we have not got however is the extra money to do what in many people’s view would be an ideal job.
‘That’s not strictly necessary at the moment, but yes, there are aspirations for the whole route.’
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Friday 25 May 2012
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Comments
There are 7 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
PaulFisher
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 11:35 AMBackground on the separate bridge issue: HBCHCC: Quote: ... it was on our (HBC and HCC) suggestion that Sustrans looked at two Connect2 options for the bridged crossing (one tied to the existing bridge and one standalone) but both were soundly rejected BY SUSTRANS on the basis of sustainability and achievability Sustrans: Quote: We fully support the need for a new bridge here, but without a change of heart from the County Council it will be difficult to make any progress. Our design for a bridge puts no load on the bridge and does not reduce height or reduce available width for boats
Graham Wheatley
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 12:56 PMPaulFisher, her comments sound pretty reasonable to me.
Le Critique
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 01:14 AMThey cycle on the pavement going across the bridge as it is. What's the big deal? I've never seen any cyclist dismounting just because there is a sign that says they have to. If they can get away with it they do it. Maybe this is news to some people but some people break the rules (Shock Horror).
PaulFisher
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 12:58 AMmrsfletch hasn't the remotest clue what mrsfletch is talking about.. This sort of ignorance only serves to damage the cause of safe cycling on and off Hayling Island.
mrsfletch
Monday, February 6, 2012 at 06:43 PMAt a public meeting I attended several years ago on Hayling Island, an engineer from HAMPSHIRE County Council who are responsible for major projects on roads and bridges stated that the existing bridge structure would not support a leisure bridge. As a result, Sustrans came up with a ridiculous high level bridge plan which would have needed 'skyhooks' to support it or huge cantilever towers at each end which would never be approved in an SSSI. Since then, there nave been repeated and futile suggestions to return to a plan for a bridge attached to the existing structure. This idea was also ruled out, at that meeting, on the basis that any attached structure would obstruct navigation at the highest tides. Have you actually LOOKED at how little headroom there is on a big spring tide? Reducing it further could mean that it would be impossible to get either of the two inshore lifeboats underneath in an emergency because they have a superstructure that holds aerials and lights etc. I drive one of Langstone SC's support boats from time to time, and know how restricted the headroom is at HW Springs. A second bridge really isn't necessary, all that is needed is more warning signs, cyclists already use the existing bridge as it is with very little hazard to themselves or pedestrians with suitable care and courtesy. Some of them regrettably are NOT always courteous OR careful when crossing club entrances. The solution now offered is not perfect, but asking for more is unreasonable and unworkable given all the circumstances.
griffon
Monday, February 6, 2012 at 01:39 PMMy impression that people don't dismount anyway so the new section makes it legal. The leisure bridge was mooted years ago and no doubt it will be many more years until one is built
sw33n3y
Monday, February 6, 2012 at 01:32 PMWould Messrs Mountain and Lenaghan please explain why the southern end of Hayling Bridge pavement is considered dangerous for shared use, whilst the shared pavement in Durrants Road, Rowlands Castle is just as narrow in one place, and adjacent to a school. l use the Hayling Bridge crossing regularly and the number of cyclists far outweighs the number of pedestrians - and there`s no school nearby. . Get your act sorted out, Gentlemen.
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