'Lib Dems propose ambitious plans for cycling & walking routes for the Hoo Peninsula'

Medway Liberal Democrats have responded to Medway Council's "New Routes to Growth" consultation on proposed plans to develop the Hoo Peninsula. Having looked at the consultation, we are concerned that the plans for cycling and walking routes around the Peninsula are vague and lack ambition. .

We feel that a holistic approach needs to be taken, to ensure infrastructure for walking and cycling routes is at a consistent standard across the Peninisula and should be considered from the earliest stages of plan making and integrated into the design of the development. Too many housing developments are built in remote locations with poor public transport, without walking and cycling connections, giving residents little choice but to drive.

Routes should be designed to encourage walking and cycling around area, between the new proposed rail station and to our towns' and could potentially be linked to form part of a Medway cycling network. We feel that an assessment of the Peninsula regarding routes that have the potential to connect with key destinations in the region, would benefit the development.

We would like to see alongside existing routes, the creation of new routes, with improved access that could feed into the Hoo development. We would like to propose that the walking routes along the Thames Estuary coastline connected to existing routes from Cliffe to Allhallows.

These could contribute to a wider network of cycling and walking routes, designed to get around to what all of the Peninsula has to offer, for example, its marshlands and the Northward Hill National Nature Reserve located in High Halstow.

Liberal Democrats want to stress that we are not opposed to the Hoo development, and the consultation does place an emphasis on cycling and walking, but lacks substance in its detail with "vague assurances". Poorly designed and piecemeal walking and cycling routes are unlikely to attract new users and potentially remain unused by people who already choose to walk and cycle locally, so it is important that they are designed consistently and to a high quality.

ENDS