community engagement survey

Our response to the community engagement feedback 

Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete our Green Loop survey. We received a great deal of valuable feedback. We have grouped the comments and opinions you have shared into themes below, and included a response to each theme. In bold below are the opinions you provided in the survey, with our comments on these underneath each one.

What is the point of telling people about paths that already exist? 

Whilst many residents know Harpenden’s geography well, there are many who don’t. This initiative highlights that there is an enjoyable local route that showcases some of Harpenden’s green spaces which residents can access relatively easily, not too far from their homes. In line with our Business Plan, the Town Council is seeking opportunities to improve the health and wellbeing of residents whilst also reducing car usage. 

Does this include new safe cycling routes, new cycle paths, resurfacing of paths, new infrastructure for the routes?     

Will the routes be useable / accessible in bad weather/winter?  

Don’t tarmac or change the path surfaces. 

The objective of this initiative is to highlight existing routes that can be joined up to create an interesting ‘circular’ walk or cycle ride around Harpenden for the enjoyment of local people. 

The Green Loop will not create new surfaces, new means of accessing the paths, or new infrastructure. 

It must be remembered that Harpenden Town Council only own some of the land used by these routes and is not responsible for and doesn’t receive the budget allocation for changes/maintenance to highways which includes such things as cycle paths and cycle segregated routes. 

A small budget is available to provide signage on the routes. There is no vast budget to change path surfaces etc. 

Greater cycle connectivity is required and cycle paths need improving and expanding. Cycling in the town centre, and on other roads, needs to be made safer. Introduce reduced speed limits, safe crossings, controlled junctions. 

Harpenden Town Council is not the Highways Authority and cannot deliver these types of improvements. Hertfordshire County Council is the Highways Authority. 

You should spend the money on more useful things such as mending potholes.  Or to change the parking restrictions in the town. 

Potholes and road maintenance falls to the Highways Authority and Harpenden Town Council is not the Highways Authority. 

St Albans City and District Council is responsible for on street parking restrictions in the Town.

Routes should be expanded to include mini loops within it, or extensions to Redbourn or Wheathampstead.  

This is a good idea. The objective of this initiative is to get a Harpenden wide loop route in place. Once established we will explore mini loops as suggested.

The map is unclear. 

We agree that this draft map is unclear. Following your feedback the route of the Loop will be finalised and then we will have the map produced professionally. We did not wish to spend money unnecessarily on map design until the final route was established. 

The route on the map is wrong through Rothamsted. 

Thank you for pointing this out. There is a route error on the map which we will now correct. 

Change the route from Crabtree Fields to along Piggottshill Lane. 

Change the route from going through Parva Close and the Cross Lane estate to going straight up Cross Lane from Grove Road. 

The route will be amended in line with this feedback to simplify it and address health and safety concerns. 

Highlight toilets, water stations and refreshment opportunities. 

We do not wish to overcomplicate the map, but it may be possible to add some features such as public toilets and water stations, however there are few facilities available along the actual route. 

Concerns expressed about joint uses of the route – conflicts between aggressively riding cyclists, inconsiderate pedestrians not controlling their dogs, and clashes between golfers and other types of users i.e. concern about lack of respect between different types of users. 

Horse riders concerned about other types of user increasing traffic on bridleways. 

This is a matter of mutual respect. It should be expected that people will act responsibly according to the type of footpath/ bridleway in use and be respectful of other users. A bridleway is for use of those on foot, on bicycle and on horseback. Again, people must respect each other and be considerate towards one another. 

People should respect others, cycle considerately and use their bell, keep dogs under control and have mutual respect between golfers and others. 

Walking beside the A1081 is unpleasant. Walking along the edge of West Common is far better. 

This route will be clearer on the final map, but it is currently mainly on the horse ride path on the Common and not immediately beside the A1081. There is only a very short distance adjacent to the A1081, near the Baa Lambs, before crossing the road towards Rothamsted Park. Private roads on West Common have been avoided.  

Is there a half route for cyclists?

Steps from Nickey line. 

Clarify what the half route is. 

There is no cycle half route, only a walking half route. Steps from the Nickey Line at the A1081 are not included in the cycling route.  There are steps from the Nickey Line at the top of Hollybush Lane and an alternative step free route has been suggested using Ambrose Lane. 

Parking for the loop 

This initiative is intended to be accessible by Harpenden residents without needing to use a car.

Is cycling allowed on the golf course? 

Cycling is only permitted on the golf course on the permissive horse ride route which is signposted.

Will there be written instructions? 

There may be a brief guide, but a decision will be taken on this once the clarity of the final map is known. 

Add distances? 

If there is a brief guide, distances for individual sections will be included.   

Safe crossing places 

The loop follows existing paths so no additional crossings are planned.  Only Highways at Herts County Council is able to install crossings on Highways.