A52 Active Travel Partnership Nottingham Knight to Wheatcroft roundabout brief
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A52 Active Travel Partnership
Nottingham Knight to Wheatcroft roundabout brief
We propose an initiative to improve the safety of people crossing the busy A52 near
West Bridgford. With the Government pushing for an Active Travel programme -
where people are encouraged to get out of their cars and walk and cycle to school,
work and for leisure – it is very important that safe crossings are provided across this
busy road.
Non-motor vehicle users have major problems crossing the A52 dual carriageway to
reach the open countryside or travel towards Nottingham. The current bridleways do
not give safe access to cross the road, and the underpass half-way between the two
bridleways is not accessible to walkers, cyclists or horse riders from both the existing
bridleways. Lives are being put at risk and quality of life reduced for users such as
children going to and from school, and other active travel users who may wish to
reach the countryside for leisure and health benefits.
Whilst Highways England is planning controlled crossings for the Nottingham Knight
and Wheatcroft roundabouts, this is not going to solve this specific problem. The
crossings will be a long way from the current rights of way and would mean anything
up to a 20-minute diversion to reach them.
We suggest some simple, effective and low-cost solutions: -
• Create a new bridleway on the northside to link to the existing bridleways.
• Make the access across the verge at the existing two crossing points safe for
users, and create links to the underpass.
• Clear the accumulated soil out of the underpass to increase the headroom, and
designate the tunnel as a public bridleway so cyclists and horse riders can use it.
These solutions will create a safer environment for local residents who wish to reach
the countryside from their own homes, and for children who walk or cycle to school.
Organisations represented
Rushcliffe Ramblers
Notts Area Ramblers
Notts Footpath Preservation Society
Notts CTC (UK Cycling)
Pedals
British Horse Society
Nottinghamshire Local Access Forum
Ridewise UK
Local residents
Active Travel Route environment is vital Even before the pandemic struck it was clear that there were huge problems for non- motor vehicle users, i.e. those on foot, cycle or horse, trying to cross the A52 to access the right of way network in the open countryside or trying to travel towards Nottingham. The repeated lockdowns during the pandemic have demonstrated the need for a linked up Active Travel network that local residents can access from their homes. In the past the problem has been that road schemes often ignored the needs of this group of users, or judged the provision in terms of engineering and motor vehicles. When the A52 was built little thought was given to such users, but traffic levels were much lower then. The current very heavy flows between the Nottingham Knight and the Gamston roundabouts act as a formidable barrier to Active Travel on the southern and eastern side of the West Bridgford, Gamston, Edwalton urban area. To enhance the quality of life in these communities high quality routes between communities and into the surrounding countryside are needed for all non-motor vehicle users. We are not going into detail about the cost-benefit analysis of providing proper green infrastructure for those on foot, cycle and horse to allow active travel with minimum carbon footprint; nor the gains from replacing local motor vehicles journeys by Active Travel journeys in terms of reducing congestion and the increase in employment opportunities provided by low cost travel options. The health, welfare and environmental benefits are now so widely accepted as to make these arguments unnecessary. Active Travel Route location is crucial Length of the route and safety are often thought of at the design stage, but not the environment that the users of the Active Travel routes will be subjected to in terms of pollution, both chemical and noise. Sometimes things go well, an excellent example being the A46 dualling near Cotgrave and East Bridgford. Here, although bridleways have been created alongside the road, they are sheltered behind hedges & fences and sufficiently distanced from the road to diminish both noise and air pollution levels, as well as hazardous buffeting turbulence from motor vehicles travelling at high speed too close to them. The part of the A52 we are considering in this document has right of way links that used to be very popular and have out of necessity again become well used during the lockdowns, but these routes now have major problems because of very dangerous road crossings. Active Travel Route choice is essential The proposed changes at both roundabouts are seriously flawed in not offering choices. Whilst both schemes included controlled crossings, they only serve Loughborough Road and Melton Road and neither allows Active Travel users other choices. Making no provision for the existing bridleways is a very serious omission in terms of safe, convenient and attractive Active Travel options.
Nottingham Knight roundabout to Wheatcroft roundabout (1.7km)
Estimated journey times between the Car 60mph 1 minute
roundabouts cyclist 10mph 6 minutes
Foot or horse 3mph 20 minutes
Diverting Active Travel users to the proposed crossings at the roundabouts means
• Journey time and distance would be significantly increased for Active Travel.
• Journeys will be alongside roads carrying
heavily congested traffic flows, where the
air pollution, noise, & turbulence will be
unacceptable to many users.
• A60 Loughborough road north of the
Nottingham Knight roundabout (below)
has a narrow footway, which will restrict
access to cyclists and would be impossible
for horse riders coming from/going to
West Bridgford.
Ideally the existing crossings would be
made safe because they make use of existing bridleways which are fairly direct, peaceful,
attractive and have cleaner air, making them much more attractive to users. Failing that
then the existing underpass makes a good route under the A52, about half way between
the 2 bridleways.
South of the A52 the gap between Ruddington BW2 and the end of Landmere Lane has
been in use by the public for more than 20 years without let or hindrance, which makes it
a candidate for adding to the definitive map as a public right of way. We are currently
collecting User Evidence Statements for this gap.
Key
Public footpaths
Public bridleway
Landmere Lane
maintained public road
Crossing point A – the problems A1 - Nottingham Knight to Old Road – the A52 is curved and lined with trees providing very poor sight lines for bridleway users going south A2 - The very poor sight line at A on the north side (bridleway) – how soon can high speed vehicles be seen when standing on the verge or sitting on a bicycle or a horse further back when leaves are on the trees?
A3 - The crossing at A – shows the convoluted route and very poor sight line on the
northern side
A4 - The first
problem – the bank
on the south side of
crossing A restricts
access to the
roadside verge.
Users then have to
cross diagonally or
walk along the verge.
What choice do
cyclists and horse
riders have?
The orange ring
marks the for sale
board.
Why has this been
allowed to remain
blocking the verge?
A5 – Crossing A - Summer 2020 - The crossing line from the bridleway on the south side goes diagonally across the carriageway – the For Sale sign has been there a long while. A6 – Crossing A is dangerous – note the heavy wear lines during lock down Feb 2021, including along the roadside edge of the crash barrier. Users going north have to have their backs to the traffic whatever line they use. A7 - Crossing A north side – also has restricted access to the verge – the obstructions to the sight line can be seen, including trees, lampposts and a road sign.
Crossing point B – the problems
B1 - Crossing B -Ruddington BW2 -
Another bank on the south side
restricting access to the verge. The
alignment can be seen with the fence
between the crash barriers extending a
long way to the left. The crash barrier
then adds to the diversion needed
B2 - Crossing B - Again
heavily used during
lockdown – another
narrow verge or
diagonal crossing. Users
should not have to
move with their backs
to the traffic along the
very edge of the verge
or diagonally across the
carriageway.
B3 - Crossing B - This is a bridleway
crossing so there should be space
available on the verge for cyclists
and horse riders to safely wait for a
gap in traffic. The brambles hide the
bank.
B4 - Crossing B The central reservation path has also been heavily used during lock down (Feb 2021) due to the decrease in high-speed traffic – cycle tyre marks can be seen B5 – Crossing B north side – another diagonal crossing
Crossing point C - The underpass – a safer alternative C1 The south end – at 2.4m there is plenty of height for cyclists or to lead a horse through if mounting blocks are provided. Highways England refuse to allow designation for cyclists and horse riders to use. The slope is 1.1m high and 15m long – slope of 7.3% C2 The height on the north side has been reduced to 2.1m by soil washing in
C3 The southern half
of the underpass is
at least 2.4 m high.
C4 The northern half has a wedge of
compacted soil which is at least 0.3m
deep at the northern entrance. The
concrete to concrete height is at least
2.4m
C5 The underpass is 5.5m wide and 32.75m longLow underpasses under A roads that are public bridleways C6 Keighley BW6 C7 Chichester 3593 BW C8 Leicestershire BW I30, Mountsorrel goes under the A60 at 458345,315684 River Soar flood relief tunnels with mounting blocks. Sign says ‘Dismount’.
Questions for Highways England:
• Why should Active Travel users, including school children from Ruddington going to &
from Rushcliffe School, have to travel out of their way to cross the A52?
• Why should Active Travel users have to travel alongside major roads, subject to
chemical pollution, noise pollution and severe turbulence from high-speed vehicles
passing close by?
• Why does Highways England not recognise that users on foot, cycle & horse, have a
right to use public highways and cross safely?
What we want:
1. The existing two crossing points made fit for purpose, with safe roadside approaches
and exits that minimise the crossing distance and provide good sight lines, and clear and
level exits from the carriage way. These are highway issues not public right of way
issues. Users are forced to cross diagonally which can increase crossing time by up to
50%.
2. The accumulated soil removed from the underpass to increase headroom, and it be
made available to all users on foot, cycle and horse, albeit with mounting blocks for
horse riders.
Background links:
http://ruddington.info/school-cycling-route-plans-in-jeopardy-jul2020/You can also read
