Dacorum Cycling Strategy

29^th July 2008

Dacorum Cycling Strategy (DCS), when issued, will define proposals to improve conditions for cyclists in the Borough and thus encourage more people to take up this environmentally friendly form of transport.

Delays in producing a strategy make it difficult to get improvements written into Local Transport Plans and at the same time can result in a loss of opportunity to claim funds from S106 agreements, these are "planning obligation" funds paid by developers to compensate for the impact of the development on the local community, e.g on schools and transport.

TBCC have been urging Dacorum Borough Council (DBC) to finalize this document since 2004 and we were excited when a draft document appeared in March 2006. (This can be viewed on the DBC website). The excitement soon disappeared when we read the contents and a detailed response was made.

Scroll down for the full history of our efforts.

2008

July 10^th: Tim Vaughan gives a presentation to the Dacorum Environmental Forum. The outcome was that TBCC have been invited to take a report to the Environment Overview & Scrutiny Committee on behalf of DEF. To view the presentation you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader

June 19^th: Elizabeth Savage mentions the DCS at a steering group meeting of the Dacorum Environmental Forum. Subsequently, TBCC is invited to give a presentation to the Forum at its next meeting.

June 6^th: A letter urging that the DCS be rapidly finalised is sent to the eleven councillors on the Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee and also to the five "substitute councillors" for this committee. A copy is also sent to Bert Chapman (Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services) and Nick Hollinghurst (Councillor for Tring, DBC and Herts).

2006

December 21^st: Because of what we see as continuing delays we have now written to Mr Zammit CE of DBC for a third time urging completion of this document. This letter was passed to Brian Scott, Head of Streetcare who has replied that a "final document should be ready during the early part of 2006 to commence the formal adoption process by the Council". We assume he means 2007. He makes no reference to the map produced by Groundwork which is disappointing. So we are not holding our breath for a quick ending to this saga but watch this space for progress!

December 13^th: TCC letter acknowledged by Mr Zammit's office without comment other than to say that it had been passed to Brian Scott for him to reply.

December 11^th: TCC write to Mr Zammit detailing the information below and asking him to urge the finalization of the DCS.

December 5^th: In a telephone conversation, Lorna Clark (DBC) said that she and Brian Scott were hoping to finish the strategy "within the next week or two" and they were going to meet Emma Norrington (Groundwork) next week. She thought that then it could be discussed with the DCF. The strategy will still have to be approved by councillors before it can be published.

November: In the absence of any news TCC asked DBC for feedback on the map, and suggested that DCF would welcome a presentation on progress towards finalizing the strategy.

May 20^th: DBC reported that the strategy was being finalized.

May 5th: Groundwork confirmed that a map showing improvements identified by members of the DCF had been passed to DBC. TCC contribution to this map can be seen in newssheet 60 dated May 2006.

2005

September: First meeting of the Dacorum Cycling Forum (DCF). Several working meetings followed as members brought forward suggestions for inclusion in a map being prepared by Groundwork who had agreed to undertake this work.

August: Discussions between TCC and Berkhamsted Cycling Group (BCG) highlighted concerns regarding the lack of positive initiatives in the draft document. It was jointly agreed that a Borough-wide forum should be established with the object of making recommendations for specific improvements for submission to DBC.

May: TCC responded to the draft with comments.

March: A copy of the Dacorum Cycling Strategy - Draft 2005 was received with a covering letter requesting comments.

2004

December: TCC wrote again to Mr Zammit as we had not received any information that suggested a draft was available for consultation.

November: A conversation with Mr. Camp revealed that further revisions to the draft were necessary but no date could be given as to when it would be available for comment.

A reply to this letter from Mr. Camp states that a draft would be ready for consultation mid to late Sept 2004.

May: TCC wrote to Mr Zammit (CE of DBC) urging the rapid production of the DCS.

2003

Winter/Spring 2004 edition of the Dacorum Digest says that there would be consultation on a cycling strategy with no date given as to when this might take place.

Autumn edition of the Dacorum Digest says that a draft cycling strategy will be ready for consultation by April 2004.

2002

2002/03 edition of the Dacorum Community Plan refers to the implementation of a cycling strategy for the Borough by the end of 2002/03.

2001

TCC learn that DBC are to produce a cycling strategy.