Cycleroute to Nowhere?

Last year, Northumberland County Council (NCC) approved plans for three new cycling and walking routes in Ponteland, Ashington and Blyth, hoping to: ’create stronger and greener links between towns for work, education and leisure purposes’.

The Ponteland route was jointly funded by NCC, the Transforming Cities Fund and the Active Travel Fund to the tune of £866,000. A further £500,000 was provided by Transport North East earlier this year to complete the scheme which creates a cycle route from Callerton Lane to Prestwick Road End roundabout, much of it along an existing bridleway.

The project has, however, met with a mixed reaction from residents. Concerns have been expressed about the cost of the scheme; a lack of meaningful consultation; the destruction of a wildlife corridor and the removal of native trees, bulbs and wildflowers planted by volunteers from Ponteland Community Partnership. Others have suggested that £1.38 million could have been better spent on repairing potholes or on measures to prevent flooding of surrounding roads. There are worries that the project is a precursor to housing development on the surrounding fields. Although the scheme aims to connect Ponteland by cycle with Callerton Parkway Metro station, the onward journey from the Prestwick Road roundabout is along busy roads.

Ponteland and Darras Hall has 10,000 residents. Public transport is poor. There are currently only three bus routes - to Hexham, to Newcastle, and a new one (Route 777) just starting which provides a connection to Morpeth. The nearest metro connection is at the airport - over an hour’s walk from some parts of Darras Hall - though the 777 now includes this connection.

In 2022, 1.98 billion vehicle miles were travelled on roads in Northumberland (https://roadtraffic.dft.gov.uk/local-authorities/102). It clearly makes sense to try to reduce car use in Ponteland, and in Northumberland more widely, but is the Council going the right way about it? Let us know what you think at heddonandpontzine@gmail.com

Michael Clarke