Lib Dems Demand Better Maintenance of Cycle Routes and Paths

Following pressure from Liberal Democrat Group Leader Cllr Stephen Giles-Medhurst, the county council has agreed to bring forward a report reviewing the maintenance of cycle paths, pavements, footways and
footpaths.

He said "Too many cycle paths put in by the county council have overhanging branches and encroaching vegetation thus narrowing the paths and endangering cyclists.
Narrowed pavements are making children walk close to the edge of kerbs and blocked drains are causing splashing. Both are deterring children from walking to school and increasing the school run problems.

"Local cycling groups have offered a lot of good quality input to the county council but it is clear from the many faults I have reported that the county's contractors and their programme of works are not up to it.

"It's all well and good to construct safe off-road green cycle routes but that investment is wasted if they are never repaired, the potholes are never fixed and the vegetation is only trimmed at knee height not head height - which you need if you are on a bike!

"There are serious flaws in the county council's processes. Faults are not being fixed in the agreed time frame and, Ringway (the County Council Contractor) are having to go out three times or more to the same site - firstly cutting the roadside grass, then clearing the debris and then going back a third time because they had not cleared the overhanging bushes.

"We need a joined up approach to clearing debris and vegetation from paths and cycle ways.

"I have also requested a formal review as part of the winter service plan as to the gritting of cycle routes."

Cllr Nick Hollinghurst (Tring and the Villages) commented , "The County Council needs to take on board that with increased CO2 in the atmosphere and higher temperatures, the growth of trees and bushes is greater than it has been in the past ,and this change must be reflected in greater effort being put in to keeping paths, pavements, cycleways and footpaths free from encroachment and overhang."