November 27, 2023
In June, Nottingham City Council accepted more than £1.7million from the Active Travel Fund, following a rigorous bidding process.
The funding has been allocated specifically for investment along Porchester Road in Mapperley – a key part of the strategic cycle network which connects sustainable transport investment currently taking place on Carlton Road and complements last year’s Active Travel-funded project on St Ann’s Well Road, where works began earlier this year.
The council was awarded the full grant, in a reflection of its track record of building safe walking and cycling routes. Earlier this year, Active Travel England ranked Nottingham as one of the top five councils in the country for cycling and walking ambition and delivery.
The funding will enable the council to deliver a more modern pedestrian and cycling-friendly scheme, with clear segregation from traffic.
The council is proposing to use this money to design and build:
- A segregated, two-way cycle path on Porchester Road – beginning at Burgass Road and finishing at Kenrick Road
- The two-way cycle path is proposed to be on the southbound lane carriageway between Burgass Road and Cherrywood Gardens, before switching to the northbound lane carriageway between Cherrywood Gardens and Kenrick Road. This is in order to considerably reduce the interference this scheme could have with car parking
- One-way cycle paths for northbound and southbound users from Kenrick Road to Emmanuel Avenue
This active travel scheme will provide a safer active travel route for those travelling to and from residential areas, Hogarth Academy and city centre/Carlton Road destinations.
The design follows the best practice as issued by the Government. The benefits of this scheme for everyone will include:
- A more pedestrian-friendly arrangement at junctions to reflect changes to Highway Code
- Additional refuges at side road junctions to improve safety
- Improved pedestrian access to shops and businesses
- Improved bus stops
- Proper separation at junctions for visually-impaired people
- New protected right-turn areas at junctions currently without them
- Reduction in excessive traffic speeds through lane narrowing
- Resurfacing worn sections of the road
- Renewing footpath surfacing in selected areas
- Removal of unnecessary clutter on footpaths
- Cutting back trees and bushes overhanging path
- Improving existing pedestrian crossings
- Creating high-quality separate cycle path for cycles and electric scooters to reduce conflicts with pedestrians and motorists
- Enhancing links to new strategic routes for cyclists and scooters.
Councillor Angela Kandola, Portfolio Holder for Highways, Transport and Planning at Nottingham City Council, said: “This scheme will make a real difference to enable people to get to work, school or the shop without having to rely on a car.
“By doing so we reduce congestion and free up road space for the traffic that really does need to be there, while also protecting our environment by reducing emissions.
“I hope lots of local residents will have their say and I look forward to hearing the feedback and seeing the designs progress as a result.”