Ashtead to Leatherhead Cycle Route - only a few months away! It dawned on me pretty quickly ,that when all the cones went out and the diggers and dumpers moved onto our stretch of the A24, that very few of the community seemed to know what was going on (even Zen didn’t know and she knows everything!). For those that still don’t know, its our exciting new ‘off carriageway cycle and pedestrian route’ linking ‘The Street’ in Ashtead with Leatherhead town centre (via the Knoll roundabout). In recognition of the importance of cycling and to secure a legacy from London 2012,Surrey CC has developed a strategy to encourage more people to cycle, more safely. Between the DfT and Mole Valley our area was awarded £850,000 to deliver this. The scheme primarily targets less confident cyclists (young and old ), who ordinarily would not wish to ride on a busy road. Construction of the route is well underway, with a completion date unconfirmed but for some stage in the Summer (hopefully before the Tour de France starts in early July!) As well as improving facilities for cyclists, the project also improves the safety and accessibility for pedestrians, with new signalised ‘Toucan Crossings’ (so called because ‘two-can –cross’!) near the junctions of Greville Pk Rd and Stag Leys. The old footbridge at the Grange Rd/Ermyn Way junction will also be removed and replaced with a ‘Toucan Crossing’. A further signalised crossing will be provided on the A243 Leatherhead Bypass for cyclists and pedestrians to negotiate the Knoll Roundabout. I am in discussion with the team at Surrey CC and our County Councillor,Chris Townsend, how we launch and promote the route, so kick the cobwebs off your pedals...! Jamie Chisolm at Bike Beans Cycle Cafe and Duncan Knox, Road Safety Team Manager Surrey CC
Prudential Ride London - Sunday 10th August The mass event (London 100) is expected to start arriving in Leatherhead from 9am and to be finished by 3pm, and is anticipated to have about 24,000 riders. The Classic Race is expected to arrive between 4.30-5 pm and to last for about 5-10 minutes. Road closures will commence 30 minutes before these times, and will be reopened as soon afterwards as possible. During the day there will be alterations to the traffic flow through the Town so as to give access to the Sainsbury’s car park, and to Lidl’s parking, but only from the west. The route is from Dorking Road and Gimcrack Hill and Church Street, then by the Crescent past the Institute and down Leret Way. Here the route is to be confined to the two lanes away from the Town so as to permit one way use of the road to gain access from North Street to the multistorey car park . This will be in alternating directions under the control of temporary traffic signals. At the lower end of Leret Way the cyclists will turn down Bull Hill and thus along Randalls Road and on to Cobham. At the top of Leret Way the route will follow the inside of the bend, thus allowing a connection to be made from Linden Road to Epsom Road (in one direction). It is possible that the loading deck to Sainsbury’s and the Swan Centre will be used as a ‘service station’ for riders needing ‘comfort breaks’ and for relay teams to do their changeovers. Except for the Classic race, marshals will stop the cyclists so as to allow pedestrians to cross Leret Way from time to time. During the day the roads in the Town will be changed so that all access from Fetcham will be directed up Bridge Street and then North Street. Thus it can access Lidl or Sainsbury’s car parks. It will then use Station Road and Waterways road to return to Fetcham and beyond. Lots more details on the event are available from the website: www.prudentialridelondon.co.uk Hubert Carr 54