Route 7 - the Old Park Path
Route 7 - the Old Park Path
|
|
|
Latest updates in red.
Route 7, the Old Park Path, is a mainly off-road route using Old Park Lane to
connect central Farnham to Upper Hale, avoiding the busy A287 up Folly Hill.
It starts in the Upper Hart car park where it links to Route 2,
(the Lower Park Path,) then follows Old Park Lane
(public bridleway 185) up to the west of Folly Hill. This is far more
quiet, more scenic and less steep than the main road route along the A287.
At its northern end, the route runs along sections of the busy A287 on the
Odiham Road and a short stretch of Folly Hill. Cyclists going to Upper
Hale would connect to Folly Hill along Heathyfields Road. Cyclists
crossing the county boundary into Hampshire would follow the top section of
Old Park Lane (public bridleway 139) up to the Odiham Road. Along the
Odiham Road, off road cycle tracks (possibly mixed use) on both sides would
be appropriate. A cycle crossing of the Odiham Road at the top of Folly
Hill could be incorporated into the existing traffic controlled junction
along with advance stop lines and feeder lanes for cyclists travelling up
the Upper Hale Road and Folly Hill.
Most of the Old Park Path exists as un-made up road which off-road and hybrid
bikes can use now (if you do not
mind a bit of mud!).
The notable exception is, crucially, the southern section where there is no
clear link from the centre of Farnham to Old Park Lane. There are
footpaths from the
Upper Hart Car Park
around SIAD and through SIAD itself
that lead up to Old Park Lane. Both of these routes then cross
an open field for a 100m.
Gaining consents from private land owners and redesignating footpaths as
bridleways is quite problematic so an alternative link to the town centre may
well be needed.
Currently there are no provisions for cyclists on the busy A287 with the
derestricted, high traffic volume of the Odiham Road section being of greatest
concern. The roundabout, just across the county boundary, at the top of
Beacon Hill is particularly hazardous for cyclists and pedestrians alike.
Cycle Rights Network (Farnham) have already submitted
a proposal
to change this roundabout to a
continental geometry.
Hampshire County Council have acknowledged that a
geometry change would improve conditions for cyclists but have refused to
alter the roundabout or even recognise the route as strategic. As the
route has been adopted into both the Waverley Borough and Surrey County
Councils' strategic cycle networks, one has to wonder where this leaves
'joined up transport'.
