Spokes's AGM was held on Monday 26 March in the Friends' Meeting House, Canterbury. Disappointingly the meeting was not very well attended but there were enough people present for all the necessary business - electing committee members, accepting reports, updates on projects, etc - to be completed with little fuss or bother.
Our guest speaker at the AGM was Peter Wedlake, Team Leader of Kent County Council's (KCC) cycle training group. Peter, supported by colleague Pat Jarman, reviewed the courses KCC provide for children and young people and adults. Currently, about 3,500 children in primary schools (up to year 6) take KCC's Bikeability courses at levels 1 and 2 but only 150 young people in years 7 to 10 take a course (Bikeability level 3). The primary reason for this difference is the difficulty in finding time for the courses in a packed and demanding curriculum. Interestingly, once KCC's training team run a course in a secondary school, demand grows quickly and the courses are thoroughly enjoyed. Who'd have thought it, young people like being independent!
KCC's adult training courses tend to mirror the Bikeability courses. These are held at five locations in the county and are currently free, although this may change later in the year. So, book now if you're interested. Details and booking forms can be found at www.kent.gov.uk/cycletraining.
Peter also reviewed the progress of KCC's Active Travel Strategy. There are many Active Travel initiatives focussed on Canterbury, including:
Unfortunately, Katie Cullen, KCC's Cycling Office was unable to attend the AGM but she has provided details of cycling developments in other parts of the county:
Our guest speaker at the AGM was Peter Wedlake, Team Leader of Kent County Council's (KCC) cycle training group. Peter, supported by colleague Pat Jarman, reviewed the courses KCC provide for children and young people and adults. Currently, about 3,500 children in primary schools (up to year 6) take KCC's Bikeability courses at levels 1 and 2 but only 150 young people in years 7 to 10 take a course (Bikeability level 3). The primary reason for this difference is the difficulty in finding time for the courses in a packed and demanding curriculum. Interestingly, once KCC's training team run a course in a secondary school, demand grows quickly and the courses are thoroughly enjoyed. Who'd have thought it, young people like being independent!
KCC's adult training courses tend to mirror the Bikeability courses. These are held at five locations in the county and are currently free, although this may change later in the year. So, book now if you're interested. Details and booking forms can be found at www.kent.gov.uk/cycletraining.
Peter also reviewed the progress of KCC's Active Travel Strategy. There are many Active Travel initiatives focussed on Canterbury, including:
- Park and pedal at Wincheap Park and ride.
- Wheels to work - a scheme to provide practical help, including moped and bicycle loans, to get people to work or college - is being extended to Canterbury, hopefully by the summer. KCC's Highways department are holding an open day on 19 May at their Ashford offices to promote Wheels to work.
- a new cycling and walking map for Canterbury city centre is being prepared for publication later this year.
- a bike hire scheme will be introduced in the city centre, again, hopefully, later this year.
Unfortunately, Katie Cullen, KCC's Cycling Office was unable to attend the AGM but she has provided details of cycling developments in other parts of the county:
- Cinque Ports cycleway, Folkestone. The new cycle route from Folkestone harbour along the seafront to Hythe is finished. The next section up to Palmarsh primary school towards the Royal Military canal route is designed and has been through a safety audit. We are waiting on the outcome of Hythe Green village green application before we can agree the cycle route across the green. There are some road crossing issues to resolve and then this will be consulted on in 2018. New bike parking for Hythe seafront to be installed shortly.
- There is a new cycle route being built from Harvey Grammar school, Folkestone to the seafront. Funding was basically for a crash reduction scheme. It should be completed in the next four weeks. It will include a new toucan crossing outside Morrisons.
- KCC has funded Ashford Borough Council to engage Sustrans to do a route audit of cycle routes in relation to new development sites. This should be completed in the next couple of weeks. Hopefully it can be used to focus development funds on cycling improvements.
- Ashford Borough Council is currently revising its out-of-date cycle strategy - it is expected that public consultation will take place in 2018/19.
- Ashford Borough Council is supporting efforts to look again at the Ashford to Wye off-road cycle route plans. Grant applications are being considered along with possible routes. The original funding was lost but there is now a new push with the development at Conningbrook Lakes and around Wye.
- Ashford Borough Council has been awarded a 3 million staged grant to redevelop the Victoria Park area. Hopefully this can also enhance the cycle routes in the area.
- The new cycle route from Gravesend to Cyclopark is due for construction this year.
