Agenda item

·          PROW maintenance / improvement

·          S106 funded improvements to parks / open spaces

·          SANGs improvements

·          Cycleway improvements linked to developments

Rob Solomon reported on the Access Improvement Works which had taken place since the last meeting. Pictures were provided in a presentation, showing members before and after improvement works had taken place.

Public Rights of Way

Funded in conjunction with the South East Berkshire Ramblers, a new bridge crossing and gate had been installed to replace the old ‘squeeze’ stile on Binfield Footpath 2 off Bottle Lane.

A southern section of Sandhurst Footpath 14 around the Wildmoor Heath area had been re-woodchipped and sleepers had been laid, as part of general maintenance before autumn/winter.

Upon the recommendation of Colin Bird some squeeze stiles along the western end of Winkfield Footpath 19, near Cheval Stud had been replaced with pedestrian gateways. Members asked whether the footpath and PROW which runs through polo fields could be used by pedestrians when a polo match was being played. Most walkers tend to walk around the perimeter of the polo pitch off the line of the footpath. In the event that they should wish to walk across the pitch during a match, the club has agreed that the match would be halted briefly to allow them to do so. Colin raised the point that it’s hard to navigate a certain section of Winkfield Footpath 13 and suggested that the signage of the footpath could be made clearer to encourage use. (Action: Rob Solomon)

Suitable Accessible Natural Green Space (SANGs)

The entrance gate from the car park at Englemere Pond had been replaced with a more attractive wooden double gate. The old board walk had been removed and replaced with a raised stone path and a collection pond has been re-excavated at the end of the ditch line that runs from Lavender Golf Course into the adjacent woodland.

The metal gate at the pedestrian entrance off Harvest Ride has been replaced with a more attractive, wooden, self-closing gate at Longhill Park. Other improvements include removal of old unattractive concrete posts left over from the time the site was used as a rubbish tip, along with improved signage and new bins to encourage use.

Path access has been improved from Ambarrow Lane / Lower Sandhurst Road at Horseshoe Lake.

A new leaflet pack had been produced to promote new circular walking routes in the borough. The aim is to promote SANGs sites managed by BFC in order to encourage more people to visit these instead of the more ecologically sensitive heathland areas designated as Special Protection Area. 3000 leaflets had been printed and distributed to libraries, town and parish councils, estate agents and The Look Out. Natural England had been kept informed of this work.

Colin Bird asked whether LCAF could see plans for the new SANGs to be transferred across to BCF in the future, for example Cabbage Hill and its links with The Cut Countryside Corridor. Hugh Fitzwilliams highlighted the importance of liaising with the BFC planners to ensure that links between PROW and SANGs were maintained. Some discussion took place about the value of Pegasus crossings to enable potential links between bridleways to be promoted.

On a separate matter, members raised that the point that the eastern end of the boardwalk (Sandhurst Footpath 24) is not accessible. Richard Mosses / Rob Solomon would need to involve BBOWT in any decisions taken to address this matter, as this land is managed by them. Consideration would also need to be given to the site’s ecologically sensitive nature being part of the Thames Basin Heaths SPA and a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

S106

A new accessible bridge on Winkfield Footpath 6 had been installed on the route from Crouch Lane to Hatchet Lane. Approximately 230m of new path surfacing had also been laid from Crouch Lane, running alongside paddocks to prevent wet and muddy ground. The squeeze stiles on this route had been replaced with new accessible pedestrian gates.

A new bridge, path and steps had been installed to improve access to the Newt Reserve in Warfield from Gough’s Lane. It was reported that it had been necessary to install steps due to the gradient of the site. The work also means that there is now a complete path connecting Flemish Place to Gough’s Lane.

At Bill Hill, four new entrance monoliths had been installed to give information on the site and give a more welcoming feel. Signage was being introduced to encourage visitors to walk around the important and legally protected Bronze Age barrow at the site rather than over it. Further work at Bill Hill would include the addition of attractive, carved wooden sculptures at the site.

Cycleway improvements linked to developments

South Road near Broadmoor (will be) lit and surfaced to improve safety.

A formal crossing was to be installed over Rackstraw Road to improve access to Bracknell from Owlsmoor.

A new section of shared use path on the eastbound section of London Road would form part of the new National Cycle Network route to connect Newbury to Windsor.

In Warfield, new cycleways were to be installed through the Berkeley Homes development, and a new section of shared use path was to be installed on the eastbound side of Harvest Ride.

In the town centre, a section of shared use path was to be installed on the eastbound side of Millennium Way, and a shared use path on The Ring was to connect Bond Way to the bus station and train station.

Members suggested inviting Phillip Burke (Senior Transport Coordinator at BFC) to a future meeting so he could give a further update to members about cycleways linked to developments. (Action: Rose Wicks/Graham Pockett)