Cycle and walking route proposal met with traffic and safety concerns

RESIDENTS have raised concerns over a proposed cycling and walking route in a Derbyshire town.

If given the green light, the proposed eight-kilometre path would run from the junction of Holymoorside Road and the A619 to near the Chesterfield Royal Hospital.

It would be made up of five sections and connect Baslow Road, Chatsworth Road, Linden Avenue, Hipper Valley Trail, Walton Road,

Boythorpe Road, Queens Park, Chesterfield railway station, Crow Lane and Wetlands Lane.

The public were invited to have their say on the development by Derbyshire County Council after it was awarded £1.6 million by the government.

Concerns raised by the public include traffic on busier roads on the route and whether or not the plan is beneficial to everyone.

Residents were able to comment on an individual section of the route.

As a main road out of the town centre, the volume of traffic on Chatsworth Road has left some residents worried for the safety of cyclists and pedestrians.

One comment said: “This plan shows absolutely no consideration for local residents, traffic or pedestrians. An already notorious bottleneck at Storrs Road junction will become truly horrendous and unusable.”

Elsewhere, the final planned section which runs past Chesterfield Royal, including Crow Lane, which has been recently closed for traffic, has been accused of catering for cyclists more than pedestrians or drivers.

Cllr Amanda Serjeant, deputy leader of Chesterfield Borough Council has welcomed the project, but has some concerns of her own. “I will be raising my concerns with

Derbyshire County Council about the apparent lack of opportunity to comment on alternative solutions which may be preferable, safer and more convenient, and also about the length of time which has been allowed for local communities to engage with and comment on the proposals.”

A county council spokesperson said: “All comments received will be considered as part of the consultation.”