A10 Corridor Cycling campaigners have welcomed Royston Town Council’s £30,000 funding pledge toward a pedestrian and cycle bridge over the A505.
The action group was set up in 2013 to promote the development of safe routes for cyclists, walkers, and users of other non-motorised transport between Royston and Cambridge.
The announcement on Monday last week means the town council join businesses and Herts County Council in pledging financial support to a collaborative funding package for a bridge over the A505 – to be met by a new path along the eastern side of the A10, running all the way to Melbourn.
Town councillor Rod Kennedy said: “I was very pleased that the Royston Town Council’s finance committee gave such overwhelming support to this project, and were able pledge £30,000.
“For the council this a substantial sum of money. I trust this commitment will show how important councillors consider this link is to Royston residents, and encourage local businesses and other funders to ensure the link soon becomes a reality.”
The campaigners’ successes over the last four years can be seen in that most of the shared-use cycle and footpath along the corridor route has now been funded, and is either built or under active construction.
Stacey Millar, who lives in Royston and works at Phillimore Garden Centre in Melbourn, said: “I would be able to cycle to work from Royston to Phillimore if there was a safe way of doing so. I hope people will realise how much it will benefit both places, by providing a safe path for people to ride, and keep them off the main road.”
Royston’s Ann Smith, who works at The Technology Partnership at Melbourn Science Park, said: “I cycle from Royston to work in Melbourn four days a week, using the existing path. The two road crossings are perilous at peak times, the broken path surface is shaking my bike to pieces, and the path is too narrow to pass other users.
“The plan for a bridge over the A505, and new path on the Melbourn side of the A10, will make all the difference to me, and encourage friends and colleagues to join me in cycling the short distance rather than driving.”
And Melbourn man Simon Warne, who works at Sartorius Stedim in Royston, added: “I will be glad when this stretch gets done. I would ride on the road owing to the path being so rough, but it is so dangerous.
“I have been very close to being knocked off my bike. Crossing the A505 at Royston is a nightmare, as is exiting the A10 into Melbourn.”
Campaign chair Susan van de Ven said: “A safe route would transform our daily lives. Whether it’s getting from Melbourn to doctors’ surgeries or shops in Royston, or from Royston to jobs in Melbourn, only the most intrepid – or those who cannot afford to do it by car or public transport – risk cycling along the main road in current conditions.
“A county border should not get in the way of a much-needed solution, and it is great to see co-operation on all sides coming together to get the job done.”
For more information on the Royston to Melbourn scheme, including Hertfordshire County Council’s fully-costed engineering design for the A505 bridge, go to a10corridorcycle.com.
The A10 Corridor Cycling Campaign meets at Royston Town Hall on Wednesday next week, October 11, at 7pm for a 7.30pm start, at. All are welcome.
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