NCN 22 - the National Cycle Network in Farnham
NCN 22 - the National Cycle Network in Farnham
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Latest updates in red.
The National Cycle Network (NCN) is coming to Farnham!
In 1995, the Sustainable Transport charity,
Sustrans
was awarded a Millenium National Lottery grant to develop a 5,000 mile network
of national cycle routes designed to encourage pedestrian, cycle and wheelchair
travel. A decade later and the NCN is approaching double this original target
and has demonstrated ever increased cycle utilisation.
NCN Route 22
is planned to run south west from London via Dorking and Guildford.
At Farnham the route divides with a westerly route linking to NCN
Route 23
in Alton whilst NCN 22 continues southwest to Petersfield, Havant and the
Isle of Wight.
National Cycle routes are not just designed for leisure and tourist use but
are intended to provide utility routes to the local communities that they
pass through. The final NCN 22 route through Farnham is no exception.
As well as providing a pleasant route to Guildford, avoiding the Hogs Back, it
should also provide the central spine of the Farnham Cycle Network.
Entering outer Farnham from the Shepherd and Flock, it should run along the
north side of the A31 before dropping down to follow the bank of the River Wey,
passing the leisure centre, East Street development and Council offices.
A spur through the Guildford Road trading estate would also link in Farnham
Hospital and the adjoining health centre.
From just south of the town centre, toucan crossings of South Street and Long
Bridge Road would allow cyclists and pedestrians to continue following the River
Wey through Gostrey Meadow to the Maltings. From here the route would travel
along Red Lion Lane where it would divide: crossing the A31 south as NCN 22 and
north west across the water meadows as NCN 23a. The southern branch would
wind its way through south west Farnham, across Shortheath Road to Rowledge and the
border with Hampshire. The western branch, NCN 23a, would join West Street at
the Crosby Way roundabout and continue westwards to the Hampshire border via the
A31 and Runwick Lane.
First the good news: the eastern approach to Farnham
from Seale will be marked up and signed
during March 2005 and work should also take place this year on the
southerly onward route to Rowledge and
the Hampshire border.
Now for the bad news: in the rush to get something 'on the ground' in 2005,
an interim route will be signed through south Farnham (see below).
The interim route of NCN 22 through Farnham -
click for larger version.
Not only does the interim route fail to link Farnham's amenities, but it is also gratuitously circuitous and hilly. So, instead of giving Farnham the Weyside Way, NCN 22 is actually going to be the Wiggly Way.
To gain utility from the National Cycle Network, Farnham needs to push for the development of the final NCN 22 route, the Weyside Way. This will not be straightforward as the cost of four road crossings and over a mile of off-road cycle track is considable. Our best approach is to break the route up into manageable chunks and to work with a range of organisations, looking for funding opportunities. Thankfully there are several factors in our favour:
