Consultants are still examining routes along the main road between Clifton Hampden and Long Wittenham for a proposed cycle path, potentially costing up to half-a-million-pounds, and hope to have a detailed design and report ready by the Spring.
The plan forms part of a proposed network of cycle paths linking the Vale Science area at Harwell, Milton Park, Didcot and the Culham Science Centre.
WSP consultants are working in conjunction with Oxfordshire County Council. Both parties are investigating where the best alignment for the cycle path would be alongside the road.
Glenn Pereira, Clifton Hampden representative on the local cycle path group, said: “We had another useful and constructive meeting with Marie Kanayan and Ed Webster of the county council and Gareth Nurse from WSP. I and Richard Miller from Burcot were impressed with the progress to date. There are a number of challenges to negotiate before the cycle path is built but we are confident they can be overcome.”
Part of the extended route would go via the one-way Forge Lane, Clifton Hampden on its way to the Culham Science Centre. A contra-flow would be built for cyclists. Forge Lane will be closed from 5th to 16th February from 9am to 5pm so that vegetation can be cleared on both sides of the road.
It’s proposed that Forge Lane will consist of 4 metres for traffic and 1.5 metres for cyclists. Some of the bank will be dug out and growbags used at the bottom which will be planted with grasses. The verge should be about 2 feet or there will be two small walls one on each side.
Once cyclists pass through Long Wittenham on their way to Didcot on the National Cycle Route 5, there will need to be clear markings at the junction near the Cross in Long Wittenham. The risk to cyclists at this junction has already been identified and Long Wittenham Parish Council has asked for the County Council to carry out a safety audit and propose road safety measures.
Cyclists already use Forge Lane in both directions at some speed! I was under the impression that at the moment this was one way traffic only. THE CYCLIST PATH NEEDS TO BE CLEARLY DEFINED IN MY OPINION AND CYCLISTS NEED TO USE IT RESPONSIBLE!! There are several cyclists living in the village (Long Wittenham) that not only put there lives at risk by cycling at high speed round a blind bend into on coming traffic BUT ALSO THAT OF PEDESTRIANS AND OTHER ROAD USERS. THEY KNOW WHO THEY ARE!!!!!