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news
Cycle paths to be installed in Delapré Park (credit: Delapré Abbey)New cycle paths through grounds of historic abbey will restrict “unfettered access” for dogs and horses, says councillor
Plans to create new cycling, wheeling, and walking paths through the grounds of a 12th-century abbey, which the local council hopes will boost active travel provision for commuters and improve the health and wellbeing of residents, has been criticised by an independent councillor, who says encouraging cyclists to use the park will restrict the activities of dog walkers and horse riders.
The councillor has also claimed that the proposed creation of a cycling and walking hub in the estate, which will provide bike hire and repair facilities, will also cause “local residents to say, ‘what’s next?’, when it comes to their park”.
> Judge says cyclists – and dog owners – “have a sense of absolute entitlement”
The proposed active travel hub at Delapré Park, situated in the grounds of a former monastery a mile outside Northampton, will provide a new 1.3km traffic-free route, accessible for walking, wheeling, and cycling, connecting residents with “employment opportunities” at a nearby industrial estate and enabling them to avoid “hostile road conditions”, says West Northamptonshire Council.
The proposals, which form part of a joint project led by the council, Delapré Abbey, the University of Northampton, Northamptonshire Sport, and British Cycling, will see the estate’s existing pathways hardened to allow for the cycle routes, while a bike shelter will also be installed.
According to the plans, members of the public will be able to access a cycling and walking hub within the abbey’s 19th-century stables, which the council says will offer cycle hire, training, and repairs, and will form a focal point for group rides and walks, as well as volunteering and skills development.
The local authority hopes the paths and new facilities will support economic activity in Northampton by increasing the labour market which can access employment, as well as improving public health and air quality in the area by encouraging people to leave their cars behind.
“We’re aware that cycling provision in our area needs some attention and this will be a good start towards addressing that,” West Northamptonshire Council’s Conservative cabinet member Matt Golby said last year.
“This project would continue the development of cycle routes across West Northamptonshire, such as the new routes we have provided between Braunston and Daventry and at Upton Country Park. By helping to link up key sites in Northampton, this project will also support our aspiration for Northampton to become an active and vibrant city.”
> Cycling and the law: how can dogs and bikes coexist on shared paths?
However, the proposals have come in for criticism this week from independent councillor Julie Davenport, who says local dog walkers in particular have spoken out against the plans.
“Residents have raised concerns with me about the cycling paths. We have always been able to walk our dogs freely in Delapré Park, a place where dogs can run and play without restrictions,” Davenport told the Northampton Chronicle.
“This bicycle path will cause restrictions on daily dog walking because cyclists and dogs could cause accidents when not in control.
“It’s always sad to see dogs having to be on leads in a park, they need to be able to enjoy unfettered access to the park. Horses ride there also and I’m sure cyclists could restrict their walks.”
She continued: “It also causes local residents to say, ‘what’s next?’ when it comes to their park. I know the Abbey plan a bicycle hub where people can hire bikes from which will encourage more cyclists. I understand both points of view.”
The Chronicle also reported that one resident was “dismayed” with the plans.
“Who on earth thought it was a good idea to use the council's budget to tarmac the footpath by the Abbey. There is no need,” the local said. “As a dog walker I look for places where the pooches can walk alongside me without needing to be on the tarmac for the sake of their paws.”
However, the newspaper quoted another resident who was altogether more positive about the new paths, arguing that “the proposal provides much improved connectivity of existing cycle path infrastructure in the recently designated active quarter.
“The benefits to the local community in terms of improved health and wellbeing, access to green space, and local facilities are clear to see.”
After obtaining a PhD, lecturing, and hosting a history podcast at Queen’s University Belfast, Ryan joined road.cc in December 2021 and since then has kept the site’s readers and listeners informed and enthralled (well at least occasionally) on news, the live blog, and the road.cc Podcast. After boarding a wrong bus at the world championships and ruining a good pair of jeans at the cyclocross, he now serves as road.cc’s senior news writer. Before his foray into cycling journalism, he wallowed in the equally pitiless world of academia, where he wrote a book about Victorian politics and droned on about cycling and bikes to classes of bored students (while taking every chance he could get to talk about cycling in print or on the radio). He can be found riding his bike very slowly around the narrow, scenic country lanes of Co. Down.
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But surely dogs are kept on the lead, otherwise how would owners know when to pick up their dog's sh1t?
And if the dogs are on the lead it means no problem with worrying horses, or running in front of bikes.
Problem solved!
Dog owners could just be responsible for their pets for a change. Around here they are usually let off the lead to run free and harrass sheep. Never the dog owners fault though.
FTFY Julie.
If there are horses and there are out of control dogs, then surely there is already a serious problem? I can't imagine horse riders being happy about the idea that they are supposed to put up with a problem that is being used to suggest cycling is a problem.
Perhaps horse riding should be banned to allow for out of control dogs.
When I mentioned out of control dogs being allowed to rush up to people during the early days of the pandemic, I was accused of hating dogs. I hate out of control owners, though there are plenty of dogs I prefer not to have an enforced relationship with.
The 'real' question here is... Who's more entitled, dog walkers or drivers?
There's only one way to find out.... fiiiiight!
"independent councillor"
So right wing, entitled, batshit crazy even the tories won't have them.
Ex. Brexit party loon probably.
I think a lot of them joined the Tories. Could be a wannabe Reclaim Party, though...
“I was on the planning committee when it was passed. The developer told us that the properties would be long leases. After five years the tenants would get a chance to purchase at a reduced price. And the same offer would be there after 10 years and 15 years.
“Young families or couples wanting to start a family were so excited to get their shiny new home, full of hope especially because they were told that the houses are 'long lets' some were told they were 'lifetime rental properties'.
“On Friday (September 9) eviction notices were served to at least 12 residents. I'm absolutely devastated for the residents. Their dream homes will be no more and they could be homeless."
"Opposition councillors expressed their anger at changes made at the annual meeting of West Northants Council last night. The most controversial decisions were the appointment of Cllr Ian McCord as chair of the scrutiny committee replacing Labour’s Danielle Stone and the loss of Cllr Lizzy Bowen as cabinet member for regeneration.
Labour, the Lib Dems and independent Cllr Julie Davenport spoke about the gender balance in key positions as well as their concerns that McCord, a former leading Conservative in the area, has taken on the role as chair of scrutiny."
"West Northamptonshire Council official Julie Davenport told NorthantsLive the collision had "really upset the residents." Cllr Davenport added: "The community has been horrified to learn that the driver only received a two-year sentence even though he has previous offences.
"The young woman and her family have a life sentence of dealing with her life-altering injuries." Cllr Davenport said a campaign to reduce the speed limit was launched by local resident Hayley Moore, who had witnessed the distressing accident.
Hayley started a petition to reduce the speed at that location, she then presented it and spoke out at Full Council," the councillor added. "Local councillors were part of her campaign and as a community we are bringing about change to that speed limit."
She certainly sounds like a "right wing loon". I suspect Councillor Davenport is far less prejudiced than you are.
And they call cyclists "entitled"...
Ffs!
How difficult is it to keep a dog under control?
Dog walkers are by far and away the biggest threat ti my safety when using leisure routes in my locale.
Far worse than motorists!
Dogs have to be under control at all times in a public place: it would be illegal if the owner did not have control.
It is theoretically illegal, but the law only seems to be enforced after a dog has attacked someone. In practice then it is as though the law doesn't exist.
There are so many offences are roundly ignored by enforcement agencies it brings the statute and bylaws into question.
similar to dangerous driving offences then. No interest in stopping dangerous driving, but only using a big hammer on those unlucky enough to suffer the entirely foreseeable consequences.
Always enthusiasm for increasing sentances on death by dangerous driving, but never any interest in clamping down on dangerous driving that does not cause injury.
I often cycle on the tracks they're looking to pave, which are pretty poor as they're full of pot holes and covered in leaf mold, and a proper surface will be a boon.
It''ll provide improved cycle access to the new mountain bike park and complete another hard-surfaced access route to Brackmills for cyclists and scooterists thereby reducing car dependency and cutting down commuting traffic jams.
Delapre Park as pretty big with acres of grass areas, a large lake as well as two woodland areas. I hope the naysayers are just a vocal minority who need to be educated about keeping their dog on a lead where there are not just cyclists but also horses and people of all ages who are just as entitled to use the public space for leisure and to get to work.
Let's just insert all the keywords together for convenience: Daily Mail, lycra-clad, cyclists going through red lights, a cyclist once hit a pedestrian, NIMBY, Tory, haggard Telegraph fashion journo: I fucking hate cyclists, can't cyclists take a joke? etc. etc etc
Maybe they're concerned that there will be more people about to witness them lobbing their shitbags in the bushes.
I'm pretty sure the horse riders, walkers, cyclists and other dog owners would be quite pleased to see restrictions on out of control dogs enjoying unfettered access.
If it is a public place then dogs should be under control at all times. That dog owners are currently at liberty to not observe that requirement is not any sort of valid reason to prevent other members of the public from enjoying that space.
Also, it is entirely reasonable to ensure that paths are usable in all weather and it isn't some wokeist conspiracy to make such places accessible to wheelchair and buggy users.
Indeed of these do gwalkers can treat cylists like the horseriders who are already there, then there should not be a problem.
It does indeed come across as a few dog walkers wanting to monopolise a public park so that their pets can run around without proper supervision crapping everywhere and chasing the horses.
Doesnt every town has these
Newsflash. My local bit of greenery has a cycle path through the center loose dogs being walked and horse riders co-existing mostly in harmony except for the odd twat from each group.
This is about nimbys who dont want change.
Sounds nice. I'm not sure regularly cycling around horses and dogs would be relaxing for me - particularly if I want to get somewhere. Depends on the frequency and proximity of the animals.
I'd say having some space just for walking is a good idea. Especially if we do actually manage to get a noticable fraction of journeys shifted to cycling. It comes back to fighting over scraps again. There are few patches of car-free public space (it's amazing how much we devote to driving and parking). Many people not (currently) in their cars want to use them. We need more than rearranging the distribution of the scraps!
A massive green space is hardly "scraps". With these kind of places there is plenty of room for everyone....
Well... yes - there are big parks in many places. It's a question of degree.
Your park might be great. However in my experience - when they do at all - planners tend to preferentially put cycle "routes" through green spaces. Often this is not because this is the most direct for cyclists or most convenient for both cyclists and other park users. It's cheaper, it's easy - no need to disturb motorists!
People go to parks to relax - to sit, or move very slowly, or play games - but either way pay less attention than e.g. on a pavement. A path in a park is understood as "for" walking ATM. If the number of cyclists goes up, there will be more "conflict". (But perhaps that's the only way people will learn these spaces are "for" cycling?)
Equally if I'm cycling to go somewhere as opposed to just ambling about I don't really enjoy watching out for dogs being walked and/or slowing right down to pass people, or politely asking them if I can come by as they've spread out to fill the space. (All of which are normal human things to do.) It doesn't make cycling convenient.
That's the "fighting over scraps" part.
Perhaps some parks are logical places for cycle routes. Otherwise though we should be taking space for routes from motoring. And providing separate spaces there for walking and cycling.
"cyclists and dogs could cause accidents when not in control."
Hmm, maybe this is like the driverless cars in newspaper headlines, where a "car crashes into the wall", as if there is no human agency. It's not the dog's responsibility to be in control or not, it's the owner's responsibility to keep them under control!