
For the second year running the British Cycling Annual General Meeting was held in the 'cycling capital of Cheshire' and home town of Shanaze Reid. British Cycling's Chief Executive, Ian Drake, (pictured at Crewe Hall) thanked ACT's welcome to the town and said it was a fitting venue to celebrate the extraordinary success of the sports governing body whose membership has reached 80,000 with over 40% year on year growth. When asked why none of the hundred plus delegates had actually cycled to Crewe Hall he explained that delegates had come from all over the country, and most train services to Crewe only take four bicycles. He agreed that cycling infrastructure has to be a priority. Weston Road, which connects Crewe Hall just a mile from the station, is notoriously unattractive to local cyclists. The road is unlit, too narrow for vehicles to pass a cyclist with oncoming traffic, and the footpath is narrow and overgrown. It is in fact the only place where I have come off a bike in the last 15 years, trying to hug the kerb. There are many workers at the Hall who work shifts out of bus hours who have to cycle along this dangerous road. If it is not suitable for the nations top cyclists, why should we subject our own people to this danger?
Funding and planning permission has been obtained for the the new Crewe Green link road which will connect Weston with the University Way /Weston Road roundabout.. This new road is costing £27 MILLION for 1.1 km of dual carrageway. Yes, it will have a cyclepath, but it would be invidious to spit cyclists out on the totally unsuitable Weston Road. We suggest that the existing road should be downgraded from an A road and traffic calming or even closure should be considered. This will encourage vehicles to use the wider bypass and make the approach to Crewe Hall a safe and pleasant experience which will boost local tourism.
Funding and planning permission has been obtained for the the new Crewe Green link road which will connect Weston with the University Way /Weston Road roundabout.. This new road is costing £27 MILLION for 1.1 km of dual carrageway. Yes, it will have a cyclepath, but it would be invidious to spit cyclists out on the totally unsuitable Weston Road. We suggest that the existing road should be downgraded from an A road and traffic calming or even closure should be considered. This will encourage vehicles to use the wider bypass and make the approach to Crewe Hall a safe and pleasant experience which will boost local tourism.