Re :- Cycle Path from Yate to existing Bristol to Bath path.

The exhibition held at Shire Way Community Centre on the 13th October 2009 was well attended showing that this path would be an asset to both cyclists and walkers alike.

I am aware of the residents of Chedworths protest but what about the alternative ( the other side of the railway) Has Alan Lawrance from the Focus Team found a sensible solution ?

How about a report from Paul Hulbert .

The money for this path has been awarded so would someone like to tell us why we are still waiting !!

Thank you for your reply Paul.

Yes of course - I'll put a note in my diary.

As promised, a report from the Joint Cycleway Group meeting. The representative from South Glos told us that they have started some vegetation clearance at the Cyclepath Spur end, but that they are still waiting for Network Rail to give official permission for the route under the motorway, though they've agreed verbally. I will update here as and when I hear more news.

Will do - the next Joint Cycleway Group meeting is in early July.

Has there been any progress with the Yate spur. I'm using the Bristol to Bath cycle path daily and keen to seek safer routes to the start of the cycle path. The road through Westerleigh can get very busy.

Agreed, I'd like to see more action and less if what it might look like. I keep stumbling across various documents on the Internet of the route but no physical evidence. I have no doubt that will route alone with have a positive impact on the environment. It's only 1hr by bike to the centre of Bristol. This spur will make that slightly quicker and safer.
I'd like to be able to use it before the summer is over.

We had the Joint Cycleways group meeting last week. the representative from South Glos told us that negotiations are still ongoing with Network Rail, whose consent is essential - several parts of the route are on their land. They have agreed verbally but South Glos are still waiting for Network Rail to send them the conditions they have to agree to. To add to this delay, certain parts of the work can't legally be done in the bird nesting season, which isn't over yet. South Glos reckon that they should be able to do the first part of the route, from the Cox Hill end towards Westerleigh, this summer. They're aiming to do the second part into Yate in summer next year. The next meeting of the Joint Cycleway Group is in early October, but I'll put updates here as and when I hear anything.

Even though it may take until next year to get the works completed on the new cycle path route, what a great thing when it is finally completed. Big thank you to paul_hulbert for keeping Yate People in the loop.

The latest response I had from the council was as follows

Application was recently made to the Council's planning department to discharge those planning conditions specific to the Coxgrove Hill to M4 section of the route.  (The southern end of the route was always planned to be constructed first).  I am quite hopeful that we will get some positive news in the next week or two which will allow construction of this section to follow later this summer.  There are several fairly onerous conditions relating to this section, which is an SSSI – Site of Special Scientific Interest.  The Council's contractors, Street Care, are already preparing to carry out work here in the near future and have helped work up a Method Statement to help satisfy the planning conditions. 
 
Progress on the remainder of the route is subject to future funding and on-going negotiation with landowners at this stage.

Hi davidjlong2,

Is the Pope Jewish !! ?

You get the message, but big deal cyclest of Yate, we will soon be able to cross
Kennedy Way at the new 'Toucan Crossing' Can't wait !!

hi, i would like to cycle from yate to Bath/Weston. what is the best / safest route?
thank you

Hi Paul

Re your last post on 11/07/11.

You told us your next meeting with the Joint Cycleway Group would be early October, as we are now in mid October can we have your latest report please.

Thanks for the prompt. Yes, the Joint Cycleway Group meeting was last week - I'm still catching up with a backlog of meetings!

We were told that South Glos now have agreement from most of the landowners concerned - including, critically, Network Rail. The full length of the first half from Coxgrove Hill to Broad Lane, Westerleigh has been negotiated. The leases for the land are being drawn up now. Quite a lot of money is being paid to landowners as compensation.

This half of the route will be fenced off to create a 5 metre wide corridor over the next couple of months. This will initially be useable by walkers, mountain bikers and horse riders, and upgrading for "regular" cyclists will follow during next financial year (2012/2013). During that year they will also be negotiating the second half from Broad Lane to Shire Way.

The next meeting of the Joint Cycleway Group meeting is in mid-January.

I understand that this year's money is enough for the landowners' compensation and the fence, but the surfacing comes out of next year's. I'm told the project team felt it was important to get something on the ground as quickly as possible.

Will there be a lady dog area?

A quick update on the cycleway link from Yate to the Bristol - Bath path.

Briefly, there has been no physical progress because Network Rail haven't yet signed consents. Believe it or not, it's because of the main line electrification! They are considering using some of the land near the oil depot for training concerned with the electrification work, but they don't yet know how much land they need.

All other landholder agreements have been finalised for the first phase from Coxgrove Hill to Broad Lane, and land negotiations for the Broad Lane – Shireway second phase have just started.

The Westerleigh Link project from the Nibley Lane corner to Westerleigh would cost over £50,000 and therefore will be considered for inclusion in the Local Transport Capital Programme for 2012/2013.

The next meeting of the Joint Cycleway Group will be in mid-April.

Thanks for the update - good to hav eeyes on the ground!

This is great news - I'll have a look next time I commute into town by bike. Looking forward to experiencing a safer ride into town

Re :- Planning Application for Cycle Path.

The planning application should be welcomed as this part of the Westerleigh road is not cycle friendly.

With regards to the Joint cycleways Group meeting. It is disappointing to say the least when our representatives from Sodbury Town Council will not be able to attend the April meeting, I wonder if any of them are cyclest !! how big of them to try to reschedule.

Thanks for your report Paul

Progress continues on the Yate Cycle Link!

An update from the Joint Cycleway Group meeting this week - South Glos told us that all the necessary Network Rail permissions have now been granted, so that's a major step forward.

Phase 1 - Railway Path Spur to Westerleigh

A digger has already started on the route from the Railway Path Spur. By June it should be passable on foot or by mountain bike to Westerleigh. A compacted surface will be in by August, with completion to the final standard next year.

Most of the fencing is up, except under the motorway bridge, where palisade fencing will be put in - work will start on it this month.

Several big level differences are being sorted out. The route should reach the Westerleigh Road crossing by August, and it will be connected by an interim route to the Broad Lane cycle path that was signed a few years ago.

A large refuge will go in on the Westerleigh Rd crossing, similar to the Henfield one.

The "Lakes Route" will go in AS WELL AS the main route, to give a range of different routes to the Railway Path Spur. The timing will be the same as Phase 1.

Phase 2 - Westerleigh to Shire Way roundabout

Serious negotiations have started with the farmers involved (they had already been approached previously)

Phase 2 will be installed next financial year.

Parkfield Rank Link - negotiations are also proceeding on a link from Parkfield Rank, so that will give another access point onto the new cycleway.

The next Joint Cycleway Group meeting will be in July, on a date to be agreed.

We're getting there...