Agenda and minutes

Laura Dominguez 

The Forumn also noted the resigantion of Ruth Thurgood and Brendan McCabe.

Of the meeting held on 13 January 2021 (for confirmation).

Following confirmation that Brendan McCabe had resigned from the Forum, effective from the last meeting, the minutes of the meeting held on 13 January 2021 were confirmed as a true record.

In a change to the published agenda to accommodate a technical issue the Update form the Walking Group was taken as the next item.

Liz Cordle gave an update to the Forum highlighting the following points:

(a)  Walks in development include the Forest and Arboretum area, General Cemetery and Park Tunnel, Wollaton, St Ann’s, Basford and a walk linking Wilford, Trent Canal and City cycle routes. These are all in various stages of development. Tests of the routes are planned now that restrictions are easing with a view to producing leaflets in the future;

(b)  Notts Guided Walks are going to be starting again soon. Subject to leaders being found the Nell Gwinn walk will be included as well as others. Members need to respond to Chris Thompson with firm dates and details to ensure that the walks can be included on the programme and deadlines printing promotional material can be met; 

(c)  The walking group wants to continue to support opportunities to promoting walking within the city after the uptake in active travel during the lockdown periods;

(d)  The Best Foot Forward group is beginning to look at when to restart the groups;

(e)  Another walk in planning is from Newstead Abbey along the River Leen. Forum members were enthusiastic about progressing this and funding is being sought to make the route more suitable for both pedestrians and cyclists; 

(f)  The Basford walk can be easily split into 2 halves making it more accessible. It will start from the Basford Library rather than Wilkinson street;

(g)  The Enclosure Walk continues to progress with colleagues from the Parks and Open Spaces Team, with the design work for finalising the interpretation board being outsourced;

Presentation by Jo Simon, Ridewise.

Joanna Simon, Ridewise, introduced a presentation on the work of Ridewise, an organisation focused on connecting communities, people and businesses using green transport. She highlighted the following points:

(a)  A significant piece of work Ridewise has undertaken in the last 12 months is providing bikes to key workers. Hundreds of bikes have been donated over the last 12 months which were refurbished by the volunteer mechanics and enabled Key workers with a green way to get to work;

(b)  E-cargo bikes have been loaned to business to facilitate small businesses to continue delivering goods and products enabling them to remain open and consider how they may do business going forward. The use of E-Bikes and E Scooters is likely to grow in the future and Ridewise would like to expand in that direction;

(c)  A Ridewise Bike Library has been established, delivering over 200 bikes into the community to encourage people getting out and about and commuting to work. Cycling centres will be reopening soon to help training, equipment and support to help people gain confidence with cycling and safety;

(d)  At least 7,000 professional drivers will be trained as part of their continual professional development. This training takes the drivers out on the road as cyclists and demonstrates what it is like as a vulnerable road user;

(e)  Before lockdown Bike Doctors attended work places for bike maintenance sessions, and maintenance courses. Over lock down these have been moved online and have extended reach and proved popular;

(f)  There has been a lot of work over the last 12 months with families with additional needs. Ridewise has a number of adapted bikes to allow access to cycling to those with additional needs. Join work has taken place with My Sight to take people with visual impairments on to the road for cycling experiences

(g)  Ridewise aim to break down the barriers to people to access cycling by championing active travel and giving people access to the tools needed including skills and confidence;

(h)  At Lenton Abbey Park there is a Bike Club where volunteer mechanics refurbish donated bikes and offer servicing to ensure bike safety;

(i)  Funding has been received from Futures to train 20 job seekers as cycling instructors. 13 have completed the course so far and the others will be completing training as lockdown eases. Ongoing support will be offered, including additional training to ensure they become full Ridewise instructors;

During discussion the following points were made:

(j)  The Lenton Abbey Park projected used the Pavillion, curtousy of Nottingham City Council (NCC), within 12 months it has built up to 4 volunteers over 6 days a week skills they have learned have helped them to help people in the community during a tough time;

(k)  Ridewise services focus on Nottingham City as a lot of funding comes through NCC and is ring fenced for City residents. There have been some funds to support Doctor Bike and Bike Library loan schemes, however this has been limited;

(l)  Safe  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

Margaret Knowles gave an update on the work of the Planning Sub Group.

(a)  Group members felt that quality and quantity of active travel provision for the Island Site phase 1b could have been more ambitious. Some of the date was pre-pandemic data and use of cycles and walking was less than it currently stands. Comments were made about footways, cycle routes and in particular junctions at Manvers street and London Road. Section 106 monies will go towards improvements to the local community;

(b)  Comments were made regarding the Sherwood Library redevelopment expressing concerns around the adequacy of cycle parking for the development. A Draft condition has been included in the reports to require a scheme for cycle parking provision that needs to be approved and completed before occupation;

(c)  Some older developments where comments were made a while ago are starting to come through. For example a large application in Clifton between Clifton Woods and Clifton Phase 4 has now ben granted outline planning permission. This includes a condition that development cannot be started until details have been agreed around pedestrian, bridal and vehicular access routes which were issues raised by the LAF at the time of the original application;

(d)   Unity Square remains a concern specifically around cycle routes around the site. The Portfolio Holder for Housing, Planning and Heritage advised that she had made enquires and the Cycle Superhighway format, similar to that seen on Castel Boulevard was rejected due to safety concerns as a result of the expected large footfall of pedestrians in that area.

Action:

i)  Helen Hemstock to liaise with Hugh McClintock and Cllr Adele Williams around a workshop on alternative routes around Unity Square

Chris Thompson confirmed that a he would circulate a full update to forum members following the meeting.

Before moving on to items for future agendas the Chair offered a brief update on the issue of e-scooters previously discussed by the forum (minute 3, 13 January 2021)

The LAF has engaged well with Break and Como UK around e-scooters and their interaction with other road users. Members met with Local MP’s who were interested in the group’s views and committed to maintaining communication links with the LAF.  The trial continues to run in Nottingham City and other cities across the country.

The Chair offered thanks to both Hugh McClintock and Chris Thompson for the time and effort they have put into this engagement.

Items for future meetings include:

Living Streets

Slow Ways

Active Travel Projects.

The Forum confirmed that John Lee and Helen Hemstock would engage with Slow Ways and Living streets for future agenda items. 

To note that the next meeting is scheduled for 14 July 2021.

The next meeting will take place on Wednesday 14 July 2021 at 18:30 either remotely or in person depending on government guidelines at the time