Parking concerns over new residential cycle spine

Residents say they are worried about the new section of a 26-mile cycle path that will run through a residential area due to fears parking spaces and easy access to their homes will be lost.

Gloucestershire County Council is in the process of creating what transport chiefs say will be a "gamechanging" cycle spine linking Bishop's Cleeve with Stroud via Cheltenham and Gloucester, with the latest section running through Linden, Podsmead, and Tuffley.

Community activist Sophie Wootton-Lee is among those concerned.

She said: "Everyone who lives around here will have driven round and round at some point, looking for a parking space. The removal of on-street parking will make this even worse."

Wooton-Lee added: "There are parts of the route that look dangerous for cyclists and motorists, and it feels like rather than encouraging more people to cycle the route is just making the area more difficult to get around.

"Another consultation event is being held soon, and I would really encourage local people to speak up and share how they feel."

Liberal Democrat councillor Roger Whyborn, who is responsible for sustainable transport at the county council, said public engagement events had been planned to answer residents' questions and hear their concerns, reported the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

He added the project aims to "create safer and more accessible routes for everyday journeys" while promoting sustainable travel and cut carbon emissions."

Local resident Karen Deakins said: "I also worry about St Paul's School and the safety of children there. In the mornings and the afternoons roads by the school are already jammed and a one-way system on Stroud Road will make this even worse."

The second of two public drop-in events will take place at City Church on Seymour Road in Gloucester on 2 September between 10:00 and 19:00 BST.

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