Claude Avenue ramp safety issues resolved

Following numerous communications from both Councillor Sharon Ball and local activist Sarah Moore and a meeting on-site this morning with BANES officers and Councillor Paul Crossley have led to the safety concerns that were raised finally being listened to and a sensible safety option being accepted.

There is an agreement to place a small railing either side of the ramp entrance and a railing on the pavement alongside the road, leaving sufficient space for bikes to exit the ramp but also ensure safety of pedestrians on the pavement.

Officers are also looking at removing/reducing the number of bollards in place as these railings would offer safety to both those entering and leaving the ramp and those using the pavement.

by 
Sarah Moore

Claude Avenue/Bridge Road Ramp Update

As you can see, the team have "broken through" the wall onto Bridge Road.

This shows the ramp is really progressing now and it will not be too much longer before we will all be able to make use of this additional access onto the Linear Way/Two Tunnels route. Perfect for the summer holidays.

by 
Sarah Moore

Bridge Road/Claude Avenue Ramp

Work is progressing well on the construction of the pedestrian/cycle ramp from the Linear Way shared path up to Bridge Road/Claude Avenue.

As you can see, a large amount of rock has been placed into the gabion baskets already.  This will make sure the land under the ramp will not slip.

We will continue to keep you updated on progress of the ramp and confirm as soon as we have a date of when the ramp will be open for use.

by

Sarah Moore

Linear Way/Two Tunnels route

Great to see work has started on the new ramp that is being put in to enable access from Bridge Road onto the Linear Way/Two Tunnels route.

Work will take approximately 6 weeks to complete and the area will be closed off to cyclists and pedestrians during the work.  The closures are effective on weekdays only, with a signed diversion from the entrance on St Kilda's Road to the bridge at Dartmouth Avenue.

We will keep you updated on progress and look forward to the ramp opening, providing an excellent safe route to school for a large number of children, as well as another access point for the lovely Linear Way shared path.

by Sarah Moore

Claude Avenue / Bridge Road

We are pleased to confirm that work is scheduled to start on the ramp from the Linear Way up to Bridge Road/Claude Avenue from 2nd  June.

The delay in this work was to enable alternative options to be sought to reduce the number of lorries having to access the path via the St Kilda's Road entrance.

The work will take approximately 6 weeks and the path itself will be closed for approximately 4 weeks.  Diversions will be in place for cyclists during this period.

If you have any questions or would like any further information, please contact us.

by
Sarah Moore

Two Tunnels

Claude Ave

The trees on the embankment at the proposed new ramp location are due to felled next week which will lead onto the installation of the new ramp .

It is proposed that the ramp construction will commence at the end of January, During the construction of the ramp it will necessary to close the 2 Tunnels Greenway for a short period of time for safety measures.

A diversion will be in place and  endeavours will be made to keep this closure to a minimum period of time.

We will publish more information as and when it becomes available.

by Councillor Sharon Ball

New Access Ramp

Cllrs Nigel Roberts & Sharon Ball with Sarah Moore at site of proposed ramp

We are pleased to confirm, although not in the position we requested, a new access ramp will be created leading from Bridge Road onto the Linear Park shared path below.  The ramp will be coming out next to number 5 Bridge Road.

We have also received confirmation that a safety railing that Councillor Sharon Ball has requested, will be installed on the footpath where the ramp will meet the existing pavement. This will prevent cyclists and pedestrians from coming straight off the ramp across the footpath and onto the road.

This work is scheduled to start shortly after Christmas, with a view to work being completed before the end of March 2014.

by
Sarah Moore

Linear Way clear up

Councillor Sharon Ball and I joined a number of volunteers yesterday morning on Linear Way between Millmead Road and Bellotts Road, to help cut back overhanging vegetation and clear litter around the area.

We spent a couple of hours in the morning cutting back a number of overhanging trees and bushes and were fortunate enough to get the work completed before the rain started.

Sustrans volunteers do a lot of work along the two tunnels route to enable everyone to enjoy a clean and safe environment and we were happy to go and assist with this.

These events are carried out each month along the route and everyone is welcome to come along and join in.

by
Sarah Moore

Bellotts Road safety

Councillor Sharon Ball and I are pleased to be able to confirm, following recent discussions and meetings, work will be starting shortly on the old footbridge over the railway line at the top of Bellotts Road to continue the two tunnels route, with a view to this being open before Christmas.

This will mean cyclists and walkers will be able to continue their journey along the route without having to travel the wrong way up the top end of Bellotts Road.

By
Sarah Moore

'The Great Pig Hunt',

Why not go along to an event for the whole family taking place on the Two Tunnels Greenway on Monday 26 August ( Bank Holiday ).

This free event invites families to walk or cycle along the Greenway in search of representations of the famous 'King Bladud's Pigs'.

The Great Pig Hunt is part of Pedal On UK, a UK wide cycle tour taking place between 16th August and 7th September. The ride, made up of Sustrans volunteers, celebrities and Olympic Gamesmakers aims to celebrate the many new walking and cycling routes added to the National Cycle Network - of which the Two Tunnels Greenway is one.

The Pedal On UK riders will stop for lunch at the Bloomfield Road open space around 1pm on the 26th August, and we're also inviting families to bring along their own picnic and have lunch with the riders.

The ride will then depart to Bristol, and should anyone wish to follow the riders to Bristol, they are welcome to do so.

More information can be found at www.pedalonuk.org/bath.

Cycle Route Update

We are pleased to confirm that during last night's cabinet meeting the Liberal Democrat administration voted unananimously to accept the proposals to complete the remaining northern section of the 2 tunnels route, to provide a northern link to the Riverside Path and a local link to Claude Avenue. 

This means a ramp from the cycle path up to Claude Avenue, by Bridge Road can be implemented (subject to planning conditions being met)  making a safer cycling route to school for a large number of pupils.  Which will be funded by the LSTF WEST project.

and

Sustrans under licence to Network Rail will re-open the disused Somerset and Dorset Railway bridge at the top of Bellotts Road for pedestrians and cyclists on a temporary basis until the bridge is replaced as part of the mainline rail electrification works planned from 2015. The Council will look to enter into agreements with Network Rail for the adoption and maintenance of a new replacement foot/cycle bridge.

Subject to agreement with Sustrans and DfT’s Linking to Communities grant being accepted to complete the remaining off road section on Council land through the northern section of Linear Park, with the works to upgrade the existing permissive footpath to a permissive cycle track for use by pedestrians and cyclists to be constructed between the disused Somerset and Dorset Railway Bridge and Bellotts Road.

The link to the council paper is here

If you have any questions about this or other issues in the areas, please get in touch with us.

by Sarah Moore

Come to the Two Tunnels Opening Party!

Cllr Sharon Ball with Norman Baker MP at Tunnel Entrance

This Saturday is the day when the Two Tunnels Greenway finally opens to the public with a big free public festival. 

It has been seven years in coming! The Festival will take place at Bloomfield Open Space off Bloomfield Road in Bear Flat, Saturday 6^th April from 11 to 5 - more detail below. 

A big thank you to all of those involved in the project.

 

Two Tunnels Opening Festival

Saturday 6th April 2013
Bloomfield Open Space - off Bloomfield Road, Bear Flat, Bath

FESTIVAL all day from 11.00 to 17.00

GRAND OPENING at 12:30

with Olympic gold medallist Amy Williams, Somerset and Dorset railway firemen

and children from Oldfield Park school

at the entrance to the Devonshire Tunnel

FRESH AIR MILES RIDE

13-mail loop

Registration from 11 am at the Sustrans tent or online

First riders from 1 pm

LIVE MUSIC ALL DAY

Bath Samba Band

Bath Guitar School Band

One Mississippi Two

Widcombe Choir

Swamp Donkey

Ross Kirk

Rosa Gray Band

Middle Stump

Dudlow Joe

FOOD AND DRINK
AND MUCH MORE FROM 11 TO 5:

Return of King Bladud’s Pigs

Matti Hemmings pro BMX – clinics and displays

Live projections – Suited & Booted

Win a bike from Green Park Bike Station

Somerset and Dorset Railway Display run by the ex-firemen

Pink Milkfloat Printing Press

Free bike check-ups

Wheels for All

Local Community Stalls

Interesting local sales stalls