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New Milton councillors back alternative cycling routes amid road safety concerns over New Forest Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP)




A RAFT of road safety issues in New Milton were raised as town councillors responded to a consultation on a New Forest-wide cycling network.

The town council’s amenities committee reviewed potential routes included in the New Forest Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) at a recent meeting.

Aimed at providing safer journeys for cyclists and walkers, the LCWIP is being worked on by Hampshire County and New Forest District councils, together with the national park authority and Forestry England.

The proposed New Forest Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) network
The proposed New Forest Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) network

It is a government-funded scheme, with the money coming from Active Travel England, an executive agency promoting sustainable options.

Committee members discussed Transition Lymington’s Tube-style map which proposes a series of routes for inclusion in the LCWIP.

While generally supporting it, they voiced reservations about using main roads to cycle between New Milton and nearby towns and villages.

They particularly felt the B3058 Station Road through the centre of the town, as well as the B3058 Milford Road towards Milford, were unsuitable.

Transition Lymington's proposed Tube-style cycling map
Transition Lymington's proposed Tube-style cycling map

One concern related to the Station Road crossroad junction with Whitefield and Osborne roads.

Councillors were bemused to see debate over it reopened after decades of campaigning on residents’ behalf to improve its safety.

This previously resulted in HCC advising there were not sufficient fatal or serious injury statistics to support any change, with “options” having been fully assessed.

Instead, the town council is supporting alternative, less direct and less busy routes proposed by sustainability group Transition Lymington.

One of these, marked 5a, would take cyclists through Hordle instead of along the B3058 Milford Road between New Milton and Milford.

An avid cyclist himself, Cllr Neil Tungate said: “I welcome Transition Lymington’s efforts to take cyclists off the busy roads.

“The rest of Europe has got it nailed – in France you can cycle on lots of off-road tracks.”

Routes 10 and 11 on the map would take riders along quieter roads from New Milton to Sway and to Brockenhurst respectively, avoiding the B3055 Sway Road.

Route 3, between New Milton and Lymington, would also avoid the main roads by travelling via Hordle, Everton and Pennington.

Existing walking routes would be opened up to cyclists, with new paths also developed
Existing walking routes would be opened up to cyclists, with new paths also developed

Cllr Alan O’Sullivan said: “I’m all for cycling. What concerns me is the roads in the Forest here are so narrow, to give cyclists any priority is going to be a challenge.”

He expressed scepticism that the scheme would inspire motorists to “get on their bikes” to travel from New Milton to somewhere like Brockenhurst.

Stressing it was within HCC’s remit to authorise the routes, assistant town clerk Theresa Elliott said it would be able to apply for funding in future if it could demonstrate it has fully adopted the LCWIP.

Cllr Steve Clarke argued the town council had no choice but to support the LCWIP as it was involved in the New Milton Neighbourhood Plan.

“The aspiration for the town is to make sure we have a complete circular route around the parish,” he explained.

“At the moment the main drivers [of the scheme] are those in the cycling community, but we also have a lot in the walking community.

“We want to improve the footpaths and bridleways, etc, so it’s a good project to support.”

He also cited the fact it would be funded by government money, rather than the public purse, as a positive.

Amenities chairman Cllr Geoffrey Blunden highlighted residents’ frequently raised concerns about the state of New Forest roads, with potholes and other defects.

Committee members agreed to recommend their response to the consultation include concerns about using direct routes.

They believed that as these were the most busy, they were less safe and would also cost more.

Backing the quieter routes, they believed these would better encourage novices.

The New Forest LCWIP is open for public consultation until 3rd November. To have your say, visit https://www.hants.gov.uk/aboutthecouncil/haveyoursay/consultations/newforest-lcwip



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