Chesterfield and District Civic Society has submitted a petition to Derbyshire County Council, following the council’s decision to proceed with the East-West Cycling Route.
Our petition refers to the western extension, particularly along Chatsworth Road. We are concerned that the plans will make an extremely busy section of Chatsworth Road dangerous to all road users. We believe the county council should make renewed efforts to obtain an agreement with the landowners concerned to use the route between Greendale Avenue and Somersall Lane, currently a public footpath, as was originally intended.
The on-line petition has yet to approved by the county council. Once live we’ll post a link here.
We would welcome as many people who agree with our stance, to sign the online petition.
There will also be paper copies that can be circulated. If anyone would like a paper version, message us via our new Facebook page or email us: chairman@chesterfieldcivicsociety.org.uk
What the petition says
Chesterfield East-West Walking and Cycling Route
We the undersigned ask Derbyshire County Council to abandon, in its present form, the western extension of the existing Hipper Trail via Linden Avenue and Chatsworth Road, on the grounds that this will make an extremely busy section of Chatsworth Road dangerous to all road users. Instead DCC should make renewed efforts to obtain an agreement with the landowners concerned to use the route between Greendale Avenue and Somersall Lane, currently a public footpath, as originally intended.
The petitioners support the creation of dedicated walking and cycling routes in Derbyshire, but oppose the use of Chatsworth Road and Linden Avenue as the route of the proposed western end of the Chesterfield East-West Walking and Cycling Route. Large numbers of residents consider that the use of this route will endanger all road users, including pedestrians and cyclists, and will not encourage either more walking or more cycling. The building of a reserved cycle track along Chatsworth Road will involve the removal of the reserved central area currently used by vehicles waiting to turn right. Traffic will, inevitably, be held up by vehicles waiting on the carriageways to turn.
The petitioners urge the County Council to reopen negotiations with the landowners to use the existing footpath between Greendale Avenue and Somersall Lane as a cycle path, if necessary seeking the advice of the Department for Transport to find a solution to any problems that have arisen. The petitioners understand that the landowners remain in favour, in principle, of the use of this route, which will be shorter, flatter and safer than a route via Chatsworth Road and Linden Avenue.
The decision to initiate a petition was taken following a discussion at our annual general meeting in October 2021.
3 responses to “Say ‘no’ to traffic chaos on Chatsworth Road”
Totally agree.
Mayhem will happen and danger to everyone who uses this section of Chatsworth road.
The powers that be cannot gave spent ANY time on Chatsworth road.
Absolute madness.
Peter Smith
The western section of the cycle route extension should keep well away from Chatsworth road. Safer cycling Access to Brookfield school should be created where feasible, however for me the route across the fields to greendale avenue is the preferred route for safety reasons and more efforts should be undertaken to gain landowners’ agreement ( if that is the problem).
The road access from Chatsworth road to holymoorside (opposite Adam’s happy hens) is too narrow to include a safe cycle lane from the DCC proposed western section.
Cyclists would have to cross the very busy Chatsworth road twice in the DCC proposal. A route that avoids having to cross this busy road is preferable. It will avoid disruption to road traffic and remove the risk of potential road traffic accidents.
I don’t remember receiving a leaflet to give feedback to DCC during their consultation period.
Chatsworth road is Mayhem anyway, this will make it even more dangerous to everyone who uses this section of Chatsworth road.
Absolute madness.
Phil jones