Canterbury-Bridge Route

The proposed route (part only) is shown as blue/grey dashed.

Route

There are several possibilities, including:

Gate Inn roundabout behind hedge on western side on New Dover Road (A2050) towards A2. Share existing bridge over A2 and reapportion road space to allow for a traffic-free cycle path on the western side. Follow through to NW edge of village of Bridge.
Development of former Elham Valley Railway line from the New Dover Road Park & Ride site to just outside western side of Bridge. Use existing bridleway along the edge of St. Anselm’s school to link to Old Dover Road. Also use bridleway in the other direction and the footpath to Langton Lane to link to Simon Langton Boys school. Potential for possible southward development along the former railway in the future (though many parts of the land are now under private ownership).

Either possible route is about 4km long.

Rationale

The route will support commuting (incl school children), leisure, tourism. It is likley that it will become part of Regional Route 17 (Canterbury to Dover).

Maps

Open cycle map
Google map
Ordnance Survey map (offers scale of 1:50000) or alternatively StreetMap (offers scale of 1:25000).
Shown as Route 30 (with A and B as alternatives) on the map in the Canterbury Walking and Cycling Strategy (2003).

History

2003: Listed as a potential route (medium priority) in the Canterbury Walking and Cycling Strategy (2003).
2009: Listed as a top priority (rank 1 out of 10) in the Green Corridor Priority List of the Open Space Strategy for the Canterbury district 2009-2014.

What the CCC Walking and Cycling Strategy document (2003) said

8.5.7 Canterbury to Bridge (Options) - Plan Reference No 30

There is a need for a direct cycle route between the village of Bridge and Canterbury,particularly to provide a safer route to the Simon Langton Girls School and St Anselms School.The only direct route currently available is using the A2050 New Dover Road. An existing cycle route from Bridge into the city centre involves a long diversion using RCR 16 and RCR 17. This proposed route could also provide a link to the proposed site for the relocation of Canterbury College. The options for the route are as follows:

A. Elham Valley Railway Line

This route would be a continuation of the proposed route Nunnery Fields to St Anselms School and would also link with the North Downs Way to Nackington Road route. It would require the agreement of land owners. The first section would be using the abandoned Elham Valley Railway line between the New Dover Road Park and Ride and the A2. Construction of a cycle path with substantial clearance of trees/vegetation would be required. The route would then be signed onto the farm access road leading to a bridge crossing of the A2 and would then continue on the private road to Renville Farm, subject to the agreement of the landowners. From Renville Farm the route would be signed onto the lightly trafficked slip road from Bridge to London which leads into Bridge High Street. The continuation of a cycle route along the old railway line linking the villages of Bishopsbourne,Kingston and Barham should be a long term objective.

B. New Dover Road

This route would commence at the Gate Inn from where other proposed routes to Nackington Road or along the Old Dover Road could be joined.

The route would either be on a shared segregated footway/cycle way on the north side of New Dover Road or, ideally, complete new construction on the south side using the highway verge and some land acquisition. The route would then be signed onto the adopted highway at the side of Pond Cottages before joining the private road to Renville Farm as Option A.

From section 8.5.7 of the Canterbury Walking and Cycling Strategy (2003)

Next moves

It is understood that negotiations for land can move forward once CCC has finalised the land acquisition for the Dover Park and Ride extension. (Bridge Parish Council have recently written to CCC asking that the land required for the cycle path be purchased at the same time as this acquisition.)
Spokes plan to map out a possible route for the off-road sections and will be seeking land ownership details from the Land Registry.
Further signatures on a petition (which already has well over a hundred signatures) will be sought at local events during 2010.
Advertising for the cycle route will be printed for distribution at local schools during 2010.

Funding, sponsors and supporters

The route is included in the Bridge Parish Plan.
The route is likely to be eligible for funding by School Links money since it will serve St Anselm's school and both the Langton schools.