New Reculver to Swalecliffe coastal cycle route

October 2009 update

Since Members' approval of the route in 2007, the sections of Oyster Bay Trail that have been constructed are through Reculver Country Park (2008) and around Bishopstone Glen (2009) which involved the widening of an existing path around Bishopstone Glen avoiding the narrow bridge. It links Reculver Country Park with the sea wall at the end of Reculver Lane (by the car park) and has resulted in the creation of approximately two miles of new cycle route. New signs and timber bicycle parking stands were also provided in July 2009.

In January 2010 we intend to advertise the new promenade byelaw in relation to cycling. This is intended to allow a further four miles of new cycle route to be provided up to Swalecliffe.

Oyster Bay Trail

Scheme
Benefits
Where will it go, and what's happened so far?
Public consultation
What happens next?
The Kent County Council (Cycle Tracks - Reculver to Swalecliffe) Order 2008
How much will it cost?
Contact us

Scheme

The coastal cycle route between Reculver and Whitstable is one of the city council's high priority cycle route schemes (as set out in our Walking & Cycling Strategy 2003) as it is a missing link in the coastal national and regional cycle route network in Kent.

Canterbury City Council is currently implementing phase 1 of this new shared use pedestrian/cycle route between Reculver and Swalecliffe. It would complete a missing link in the national cycle route network between the Viking Coastal Trail in Thanet and National Cycle Route 1 in Whitstable.

Benefits

The benefits of this project would include:

Reductions in pollution and traffic congestion
Increased tourism and economic benefits
Greater access for disabled people
Improved health

The scheme would be an important transport route and a significant proportion of weekday users are likely to be on their way to work, school or shopping. It is also hoped to attract more visitors to Reculver Country Park.

It is also envisaged that many users would cycle for pleasure and exercise. It is anticipated that the majority of cyclists would be local, however, it is also likely to attract people from elsewhere in Kent, the UK and Europe.

The route would be promoted as a tourist trail with interpretation material and sculptural artwork commissioned from local artists, providing interest and information along the way.

Where will it go, and what's happened so far?

Most of the route would involve using the existing sea wall and promenade, although the section through Herne Bay town centre would go along the traffic calmed Central Parade. The sea wall/promenade is 5m wide in places and we feel that this is sufficiently wide for people to mix safely. The busy section of the promenade at Spa Esplanade would be avoided.

A planning application was submitted in January 2008 for the section of route through Reculver Country Park (which is an SSSI) and consent was granted. This section of route was constructed during spring 2008. Special care was taken to minimise visual intrusion in this environmentally sensitive area. This was done by using a special soil reinforcement system that allows grass to grow through a plastic grid, thereby helping it to blend into the landscape. Rather than using fresh topsoil and seeding it with vigorous growing grass species, the removed topsoil was reused so that local grass and wildflower species would be reinstated along the cycle track.

The new cycle track is intended for use by cyclists as it provides a firmer surface for cycling and will help prevent soil erosion. Although the new path is intended for use predominantly by cyclists, it can also be used by pedestrians and wheelchair users. We hope that the firmer surface will give wheelchair users greater access to Reculver Country Park.

So far, we have received positive comments from users of the path. We may need to seed some areas (outside the SSSI) if the grass has not grown through the geogrid as well as hoped.

A direct cycle route linking Herne Bay High School, the railway station and the Memorial Park will also be provided as part of the scheme. We hope to start this during 2009/10 and complete the link during 2010/11.

The route can be viewed by looking at these maps:

Public consultation

Between 17 September and 15 October 2007 we undertook public consultation on phase 1 of the coastal cycle route between Reculver and Swalecliffe which included an exhibition on display at The Bandstand in Herne Bay. The results showed that 77% of respondents were in favour of the scheme. These results were reported to Members of Canterbury City Council and Kent County Council in November 2007. The city council's Executive made the final decision to approve the scheme in December 2007.

There was also an opportunity for people to make comments in respect of the Order made by Kent County Council through the Cycle Tracks Act (1984) (please see below).

What happens next?

The existing 'no cycling' byelaw along the sea walls (for phase 1 of the scheme) will need to be revoked and a new one created, and this is a priority for 2009/10. This was recommended for approval by General Purposes Committee on 24 September 2009.

Providing the link towards Herne Bay High School is another priority for 2009/10.

The coastal cycle route will be branded and marketed 'The Oyster Bay Trail'. Leaflets will be produced in due course once the final route has been approved.

We are exploring ways of linking the cultural centres of Thanet and Canterbury districts by providing a new East Kent coastal cultural trail. The project would incorporate Reculver Country Park, Minnis Bay Margate, Ramsgate and Broadstairs with Whitstable and Herne Bay. There is also a possibility of initiating further links with Dover and Shepway to develop an East Kent Coastal Park.

In December 2007, Sustrans' Connect2 project won the televised vote for £50 million from the Big Lottery. Connect2 aims to transform local travel in 79 communities across the UK by creating new walking and cycling networks for everyday journeys. The funding will go towards improving cycle route links in Whitstable and Thanet which our new coastal cycle route will eventually link up with.

The second four-mile phase of the cycle route will be between Swalecliffe and Whitstable (phase 2) and we hope to start investigating options (including options at Tankerton) during 2010. We would undertake public consultation so that local people can have their say before Members make the final decision. We then hope to formalise the issue of cycling along Tankerton seafront one way or the other.

The Kent County Council (Cycle Tracks - Reculver to Swalecliffe) Order 2008

In 2008, Kent County Council advertised an Order through the Cycle Tracks Act (1984) for the four sections of the route that would involve conversion of public footpaths to cycle tracks. The effect of the Cycle Tracks Order will be that the lengths of footpath to which the Order relates will become highways which, for the purpose of the Highways Act 1980, are highways maintainable at public expense and over which the public will have a right of way on pedal cycles (other than pedal cycles which are motor vehicles) and a right of way on foot.

The footpaths designated as cycle tracks by this Order are as follows:

CW41: from where it joins the Promenade at Coastguard Cottages for a distance of 705m in a westerly direction.
CH53: from its junction with Ocean View and Reculver Drive in an easterly direction for a distance of 62m.
CH56: from its junction with Ocean View and Glenbervie Drive in an easterly direction for a distance of 570 m.
CH56: from the eastern end of Bishopstone Lane in a north easterly direction for a distance of 28m.

Kent County Council has been asked to confirm the Order and is in the process of completing this.

How much will it cost?

The scheme will cost approximately £290,000 and will be funded by Canterbury City Council, East Kent Partnership and Sustrans (the country's leading sustainable transport charity).

Contact Us

If you have any questions please email Sheila Flynn or telephone 01227 862 459.