St Albans Cycle Campaign (STACC)
What we do...
St Albans Cycle Campaign (STACC) is campaigning for people cycling in St Albans and the surrounding area, including Harpenden, Redbourn, London Colney, Wheathampstead & Sandridge:
To encourage cycle usage in the St Albans District
To promote cycling to play a more significant role in a balanced transport system for the St Albans District
To support, assist and influence to local authorities responsible for managing the transport system in the St Albans District.
Our approach is to work co-operatively with key bodies such as the local authorities whilst lobbying for better funding and provision for cyclists with particular regard to cycle paths & routes, lower speed limits & cycle-parking.
Contact us at info@stacc.org.uk
Lots of campaigning to do, get stuck in!
There have been a series of 20mph proposals coming through this year as a result of a central government fund allocation. The Hertfordshire 20mph programme can be found here.
Central and South St Albans (closed 9 October 2023)
London Colney Phase 2 (closed 23 October 2023)
London Colney, Barnet Road area, St Albans (closed 6 March 2023)
St Albans Central (closed 11 January 2023)
The difference with the two current proposals is that they are Public Engagements, not consultations on fully designed schemes. They will only be progressed if there is strong public support. SO PLEASE MAKE THE EFFORT TO RESPOND. This is very, very important.
There are noisy detractors, but we know the majority are supportive. Please make sure the 'silent majority' is recognised! Numbers matter, especially since the Prime Minister's 'supporting drivers' nonsense. Any competent driver knows that 20mph in residential areas improves driving as well as other modes - instead of rushing between traffic lights and bottle-necks, drivers are mandated to proceed kindly and calmly. The casualty statistics in Edinburgh and Belfast confirm the benefits to society of even an actually quite modest reduction in average speed, Edinburgh University research showed.
Latest News (and member actions in red!)
Proposed 20mph zone for Fleetville and more!
ACTON FOR ALL STACC MEMBERS
Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) has launched a Public Engagement on a proposal for a large 20mph zone labelled as Central and Eastern St Albans; this includes Fleetville and Cell Barnes.
The scheme drawing shows the pre-existing Camp 20mph zone as dashed lines. This helps make it clear that this latest proposal would effectively make a huge swathe of St Albans into a 20mph area.
Not marked on the plan are the adjoining St Albans 1 (Central) streets, now a 'made' Traffic Regulation Order, with signage being placed.
Also not shown is the proposal for the Beaumont Drives area, being brought forward by Councillor Anthony Rowlands using his Locality Budget.
If you live in the area in or a nearby street, you should have received a notification from the Council where clarifies that for the scheme to be progressed there must be a response rate to the consultation of over 10% with the majority in favour, which is a very high bar.
However, you do not have to be a resident of the zone, to respond, so we strongly urge all STACC members to respond to the consultation, and to encourage friends and family to do so too. Details of the scheme here, the response is here, the closing date is 27th November.
Proposed 20mph zone for Wheathampstead
ACTON FOR ALL STACC MEMBERS
STACC and others have consistently campaigned for 'whole area' default 20mph, in preference to the piecemeal approach that Hertfordshire County Council have taken previously. It is noticeable that the proposal areas coming forward have been tending to be larger, and here we have, at last..... a proposal for a whole village!
This is also a Public Engagement, not a consultation, and it is important to get a strong and favourable response.
We urge all STACC members to respond, and encourage your friends and family to do so too.
While this is whole-village proposal is very welcome indeed, there are a few points to note that you may wish to include in your comments.
The section of Cory-Wright Way shown in blue (and incorrectly labelled as Codicote Road) is already 40mph.
The section of Marford Road shown in blue is actually extending the existing 40mph further into the village. At present the 30mph starts just east of Beech Hyde Lane. Drivers have difficulty in dropping their speed by a mere 10mph here, so perhaps requiring them to drop to 20mph would be more effective. It would certainly make life less frightening for people cycling uphill and turning right into Beech Hyde Lane.
Sheepcote Lane is already 30mph, so should not be increased to 40mph! We can only assume this was a plotting error, or a mistake by someone unfamiliar with Sheepcote Lane. The sign at the Marford Road junction shows it as a cul-de-sac and the informative plate 'unsuitable for motor vehicles'.
Here is the link to the Public Engagement information; click the big blue tab to respond. Please participate ASAP, the engagement ends on 13th November.
Bridleway Closures
The landowner closed the tiny section of permissive bridleway on the multi user path linking Sandridge to Wheathampstead across the Heartwood Manor driveway in October. It re-opened almost immediately when Hertfordshire County Council agreed to rewording of the Permissive Bridleway signage - the new signs are now in place, see above.
However the closure of the bridleway North Drive (to Oaklands College) remains with no off-road alternative. South Drive is also closed, but this has not affected the Festive Gift Show to be held on 11th & 12th November!
STACC has sent a letter to Oaklands College expressing our dismay at the lack of provision for walking and cycling and consequent disruption to the community's active-travel choices during the development works.
To hear about the problems caused by these closures, why they’ve happened and what’s being done about them, listen to this podcast from the programme Environment Matters on Mix92.6 radio.
Codicote Road roundabout Wheathampsted
The improvements to the roundabout at the junction of the B651 (Station Road, Lamer Lane) and the B653 (Lower Luton Road, Codicote Road) are still underway but expected to be complete by the end of November. The improved foot-ways and dropped kerbs for all the pedestrian crossing points are now in place, as are the Belisha beacons, but not the white paint, for them. The roundabout is currently being resurfaced during overnight road closures, with road-surface markings including the zebra crossings at the west & east arms to follow. Four solar panels on poles have been erected on the roundabout island for illuminating signs on it.
You will note that the roundabout is included in the 20mph proposals, see above. So although we are disappointed that the scheme did not include 'tightening up' the roundabout geometry, the lower speed limits and the zebras should improve conditions for cycling through the junction.
Colney Heath Lane development
A new planning application (5/2023/1923) for up to 190 residential dwellings on land between Colney Heath Lane and the Alban Way has been submitted. Two parts of the associated Travel Plan are relevant to cyclists:
cycle parking will be provided at one space per bedroom in appropriately sized garages or sheds in back gardens,
two exits onto the Alban Way, at the north-west corner for pedestrians only, and at the north-east corner for cyclists and pedestrians.
Whilst we welcome the cycle parking at one space per bedroom, rather than one per dwelling, we query why one exit to the Alban Way should not also be for cyclists, as those wishing to travel west will surely wish to use it.
20mph in London Colney
Hertfordshire County Council has just closed the consultation on the 'London Colney 2' 20mph scheme.
Phase 1 covered the residential roads (mostly cul-de-sacs) in the south of the town, i.e. it excluded the Barnet Road, and the Traffic Regulation Order is now 'made'.
Phase 2 covers most of the rest of the roads in the village - the gaps in the scheme drawing are where there are already 20mph limits around Alexander Road and Caledon Road. The exceptions in the scheme are the northern part of the High Street and Shenley Lane, and of course Barnet Road as mentioned above.
It is heartening that HCC is using this tranche of government funding to create 'whole-town/village' 20mph zones. Preferably there would of course be a national setting of the default urban speed limit from the current 30mph where there are streetlights to a more people-friendly 20mph.
St Albans City Centre
The latest trial phase of the modifications to the High Street area is now underway.
The changes started with the pandemic 'High Street Recovery' funding and have evolved since, with the brief now being seen in a much wider context - this quote comes from the most recent Briefing Note for the Project Board.
This project aligns with the goals of several SADC and HCC policies. It aims to support more journeys to be made using sustainable and active modes of transport, such as by bus, walking, wheeling or cycling, meeting the objectives of Hertfordshire’s Local Transport Plan (LTP4), and addressing the climate change emergency which both HCC and SADC have declared.
The latest phase continues with George Street one way from Verulam Road to Romeland Hill with a cycle contraflow, and closed to traffic from 11am Saturday through to 7am Monday. High Street will no longer be closed at weekends, but the gates remain to allow the option of closure to traffic for special events.
The Market Place area exclusion of motor traffic has been welcomed and is to be made permanent.
Full details of the scheme can be found here.
Alban Way GAP
The Countryside Management Service of Herts County Council is currently developing a new Greenspace Action Plan for the Alban Way on behalf of St Albans City and District Council. The briefing document which explains more about the community engagement and plan-production process can be downloaded here. STACC invite members to send any comments they may have on the objectives proposed, or your thoughts on the future management of the Alban Way to us at info@stacc.org.uk, where they will be collated and submitted to CMS by 25th November.
Something to watch
If the winter weather is making you reluctant to go out cycling, here is a recommendation for some sofa cycling from a STACC committee member.
Storyville - If the Streets Were on Fire.
"I watched this BBC Storyville documentary last night and it brought me to tears. It’s not the easiest watching but it sits at the intersection of cycling and social justice so I actually found it really inspiring.
We often get hung up on the practical benefits of cycling and the safety aspects but it reminded me that there is an escapism, freedom, community and fun aspect that’s just as important."
Cycle Toolstands in Hertfordshire
Herts County Council are providing public bike-repair stands across the county and the SADC area has been allocated five.
Westminster Lodge is a location for one, but ideas are needed for where to put others. A constraint is that they need to be on land controlled by the District Council.
You can help by providing suggestions to STACC at info@stacc.org.uk.
Pothole reporting!
Hertfordshire Highways Fault Reporting is the page to go to if you see a pothole and want it fixed. Potholes more than 50mm deep tend to be fixed quickly and those deeper than 100mm are fixed very quickly. Smaller potholes tend to be 'noted'.
Other faults tend to be less swiftly dealt with, if at all. STACC continues to raise our concern that carriageway faults such as potholes get sorted while mud or vegetation on cycling and walking routes are put 'under review by local engineers' until they quietly drop off the system. Our contacts at Hertfordshire Highways are aware of this shortcoming in the asset management system, and their message to us is KEEP REPORTING IT. This will help them make the case for improvements to the system. Contacting your County Councillor about a particular problem can also help to move things along.
Wanted - Bikes, locks, lights and helmets
Do you have adult men's bikes in good condition and any helmets, bike locks, or lights that can be given to local asylum seekers?
Before being given a bike, the asylum seekers need to pass a Bikeability course, the cost of which is covered by Herts County Council. All the bikes are checked over by Andy Brock of Herts Welcomes Refugees before being given out.
If you can help, please contact Nick Clarke, clarkefamily2004@yahoo.co.uk, 01727 855026.
Acronyms, Links and other useful stuff
We try not to use abbreviations in our website and newsletters, at least not without prior explanation; however some do slip through the net so here is a list of those we commonly use:
ATF – Active Travel Fund – government money for local authorities. link
CMS – Countryside Management Service (part of HCC) link
CRoW – Countryside & Rights of Way (HCC & CMS)
DfT – Department for Transport – link to the public support-for-cycling survey
EATF – Emergency Active Travel Fund, link
GAP – Greenspace Action Plan, link
GTP – Growth and Transport Plan, drawn up by HCC, link
HCC – Hertfordshire County Council, link
LTN 1/20 – Cycle-infrastructure design issued by DfT, link
MMP – Maintenance and Management Plan – a follow-on from GAPs & last for 10 years
SAA – St Albans Abbey railway station, link
SAC – St Albans City railway station, link
SADC – St Albans District Council, link
SFRI – Strategic Rail-Freight Interchange, link
TRO – Traffic-Regulation Order, link; ETRO is an Experimental TRO, link.
VRRA – Verulam Road Residents Association, link
WMP – Widen My Path, CycleStreets website to suggest improvements, link