Dismay as plans to limit parking on Cowgate and Broadway to boost cycling dropped

Proposals to limit parking and introduce cycling lanes have been overturned by the city council which said businesses re-opening after lockdown feared the economic impact of the move

The council has been allocated more than £750,000 of government funding to spend on promoting methods of travel which relieve the burden on public transport as a response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The first phase of the funding totalled more than £150,000 with money allocated so far on widening footpaths on Lower Broadway and Cattle Market Road and installing a cycle lane on Crescent Bridge. Schools are also being encouraged to sign up to a scheme where they become traffic free during periods of the day.

The rest of the funding is due to be released later this summer, but there are now fears that some of this could be withheld if Peterborough has not made sufficient progress in boosting cycling in the city.

The Peterborough Cycle Forum said: “On the day that the Prime Minister made the largest ever announcement for cycling, the Peterborough Cycle Forum were shocked to learn that the city council has pulled both the Cowgate and Broadway schemes from their plans for Tranche 1 of the Emergency Active Travel Fund.

“The decision to pull both schemes, so late in the day, is not only a huge disappointment, but it flies in the face of what central government is asking local authorities to do, and it will almost certainly jeopardise the potential for the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority to receive their full allocation in Tranche 2 of the Emergency Active Travel Fund.

“Cowgate and Broadway represent two of the most important routes in Peterborough for cycling – yet it appears the hundreds of people who cycle on these two routes each day, and the new and inexperienced cyclists who have started to cycle during lockdown, have been ignored.

“Evidence shows that reducing vehicles on streets, and handing over more space for pedestrians and cyclists, is actually good for footfall, and good for business – we are still to see a clear and reasoned explanation as to why the city council made this decision.

“The city council had a decision to make, follow central government’s directive and prioritise and look after those on foot, bike, pushchair, wheelchair and mobility scooter – or continue to let motor vehicles dominate our streets. Sadly, the city council picked the latter – we are beyond disappointed.”

The council revealed last month that £500,000 funded from developer contributions is due to be spent on improving the Green Wheel, the 45 mile cycle route which runs around Peterborough’s perimeter.

A council spokesperson, commenting on the decision to drop the Broadway and Cowgate plans, said: “These two proposals were in response to ​a Government call to ​quickly reallocate road space in favour of pedestrians and cyclists and to aid Covid-19 restrictions in regard to public spaces.

“Businesses in the Broadway and Cowgate area had expressed concerns about how limiting parking for drop off and pick up could negatively impact the reopening of their businesses.

“We are very conscious of the economic impact the pandemic has had on businesses, and In response we have pulled the two proposals.

“We are continuing to we work on a number of schemes to be delivered under tranche 1 of the funding.”