After a long wait we have finally reached the next stage of the East Herts LCWIP project. You may recall that last year the BSDFA contributed to the initial draft mapping process as a ‘key interest group/stakeholder’. The public engagement phase has now commenced giving the local community an opportunity to review and comment on the walking and cycling maps that have been drawn up by the LCWIP project team. This engagement is scheduled to close on Monday, 19 August 2024. Before the deadline there are a couple of opportunities to meet and question representatives from the LCWIP team who will be attending the following events.
Bishop’s Stortford – Love Parks Event Tuesday 30th July 12 – 3pm. Southern Country Park, Bishop’s Stortford, CM23 4BH
Sawbridgeworth – Love Parks Event Thursday 1st August 12 – 3pm. Pishiobury Park, Sawbridgeworth, CM21 9HP
The BSDFA will again provide feedback as part of this public engagement phase and we encourage local walkers and cyclists to do so too. In order to submit feedback you’ll need to access the LCWIP website – link below.
https://east-herts-lcwip-hertscc.hub.arcgis.com
There are two feedbacks forms – one for walking improvements and the other for cycling.
Having reviewed the LCWIP feedback process I must admit to be somewhat disappointed in what appears to be a rather cumbersome procedure. For each individual feedback, respondents are required to complete a short questionnaire and then highlight on a map (using a virtual pin) the location of the ‘improvement’. If you have suggestions for more than one location you will need to fill out the survey multiple times. The map does not overlay the Public Rights of Way network (footpaths and bridleways) and this is unhelpful particularly when responding to walking improvements.
It’s also disappointing that most of the suggestions the BSDFA made during the draft mapping process have not been reflected on the draft map – this also applies to many of the cycling improvements submitted by the Cycle Stortford team. Another frustration is the sheer number of routes on the map and the fact that strategic walking and cycling routes have not been highlighted.
Despite these concerns it is important for us to fully participate in this process as having an LCWIP in place can open the doors for the funding of much needed walking and cycling infrastructure in the future.
Please let us have your thoughts on any walking ‘improvements’ that you would like us to include in our response.
