Cycle Parking Project
Purpose of the Project
To provide improved and safer cycle parking facilities in and around Leatherhead Town centre.
Background
Alan Fordham, Surrey County Council’s cycling officer, carried out an accessibility study to Leatherhead town centre in October 2005. His report showing the difficulties faced by local cyclists may be seen in the annexe. His conclusion was that accessing the town is not easy due to a lack of cycle lanes and difficult crossing points and junctions not least around the Leatherhead one-way system. In most cases these problems will not be easy to overcome due to the constricted nature of the roads.
Information drawn from the Healthcheck shows that the over-riding concern for cyclists is the lack of safe continuous cycle routes around the town and the hazardous condition of the road surfaces. When questioned about secure parking in Leatherhead the response was evenly balanced between good/satisfactory and fair/poor.
There is an obvious desire within the community to cycle. In that no short-term solution may be found to improve the road situation, as a means to support local cyclists Alan Fordham suggests that a quick win could be achieved by improving cycle parking facilities within the town. By extending the locations along North Street means that racks will be positioned at a convenient half-way point between the High Street and the new Lidl store in Station Road.
What is proposed?
In addition to the four established parking areas, seven new sites are proposed:
| Location | Type of stand | No. of stands | No. of spaces |
| Outside Associated Dental Practice (North Street) | Sheffield | 2 | 4 |
| Outside HSBC Bank (North Street) | Sheffield | 2 | 4 |
| Outside Oxfam Shop | Sheffield | 4 | 8 |
| Additional racks outside what was William Hills building (now a charity shop) | Sheffield | 2 | 4 |
| Outside Sainsburys | Sheffield | 3 | 6 |
| Outside Leatherhead Institute | Sheffield | 2 | 4 |
| Outside Park House | Sheffield | 2 | 4 |
Project Partners
Surrey County Council Transportation Department
Project Plan
Six weeks for survey and sorting out issues with the Swan centre.
Six weeks for ordering racks and work.
Six weeks for installation.
Project Costs
Costs – racks – good quality stainless steel - £2,000
Installation costs – £2,000
Contingency - £1,000
Sustainabilty
The racks will provide much needed additional cycle parking that will enable more people to leave their bicycles in a secure place. Plentiful good quality cycle stands in the right places is proven to be an important incentive for people to cycle instead of using a car.