Brenda Heninghem, Cllr. Andrew Stevenson and Tansy Rothwell
The debate at the HCC ‘Environment, Planning and Transport’ Panel on the 5th February was very encouraging. There was discussion by Panel members about the considerable levels of traffic congestion on the Lower Bengeo roads and one Panel member had visited the location this morning and spoken to passers-by. 100% of them supported the foot/cycle path proposal.
It was agreed that County Council officers would look into securing funding to undertake a professional feasibility study for using the land as a walking/cycling route.
It’s still very early days, with no guarantees, and plenty of potential obstacles along the way but, today was a very positive one.
Cllr. Andrew Stevenson’s advice and support has been invaluable and we’re grateful to him for suggesting the petition and for raising our awareness of the sustainable transport objectives in the HCC ‘Local Transport Plan’. The petition had just over 600 signatures when it closed on Thursday.
Thank you to everyone for your support. Here’s Cllr. Andrew Stevenson’s statement:
Proposed routes
‘I am very supportive of this petition and was pleased at the positive reception from County Council officers and elected councillors at the Environment, Transport and Planning cabinet panel this morning.
Hertford is very congested with traffic and bringing this land into use as a good walking and cycle way has the potential to transform local transport by giving a much more joined up and safe route than currently exists. We have to reverse the increasingly choked state of our roads.
I think this is a good example of a scheme that could form part of the Sustainable Travel Town concept for Hertford. Hertfordshire’s Local Transport Plan identifies the need for Hertford to become a Sustainable Travel Town as part of our long term strategy for transport in Hertfordshire.’