Leader calls for County Council support to maintain Harlow’s cycle track network

THIS week, the leader of Harlow Council, Councillor Mark Ingall, has written to the Deputy Leader of Essex County Council, Councillor Kevin Bentley, to recognise the county council’s support in improving the town’s future transport infrastructure. The letter also urges for much-needed investment now to maintain the town’s existing cycle track network.

The letter states

Dear Councillor Bentley,

RE: Sustainable Travel Network for Harlow

I write to you in relation to the work that is being undertaken by Harlow, Essex County Council and our Garden Town partners to deliver an aspirational sustainable transport network across Harlow. These ambitious and innovative proposals have already attracted over £170m of infrastructure funding to Harlow and the neighbouring area and will pave the way for the transformation of our district. It will ensure that the new homes and jobs for our residents can be delivered in line with the Garden Town Vision and that Harlow will be an attractive and healthy town that people want to live and work in, and do business in. Harlow Council is also leading on the regeneration of its town centre which will provide a vibrant and attractive destination for businesses, visitors and local people alike.

In order to deliver this significant change for Harlow, we recognise that much work is needed over the coming years to provide better transport infrastructure in Harlow so that far more people can travel actively and sustainably. Not only will this help to improve traffic congestion in Harlow but it will most certainly have long-lasting positive health impacts for our residents.

We are delighted to see that more and more people have chosen to get around Harlow on foot or on bike over the recent months and it is imperative that we build on this momentum to secure the long-term benefits for our town. I am encouraged by the joint working that our authorities are undertaking in this regard.

Harlow’s cycle paths

However, I would like to stress to you the importance of ensuring that the current cycling infrastructure in Harlow is also well maintained so that our residents can continue to make active travel choices safely, without fear of injury.

I am sure you are aware that a number of Harlow cyclists have been injured as a result of crashes caused by potholes and subsidence on our cycle tracks and unless immediate action is taken further injuries will occur.

This does not sit well with our shared ambition to dramatically increase the number of journeys made across Harlow through walking and cycling.

These cycle path defects have been reported to Essex Highways many times by many different people, yet repairs are very rarely made. The maintenance of some 90% of the cycle tracks in Harlow are the responsibility of Essex County Council.

Recently I wrote to you suggesting that the new money given to you by the government in response to the COVID pandemic for creating safer cycling routes should be used to make our existing cycle ways safe after more than a decade of inadequate maintenance. Your response was to say no, citing that the money was earmarked for new schemes, rather than the repair of existing schemes.

I urge you to find money for urgent repairs across our cycle network from existing Essex County Council budgets. This would be such a positive start to ensuring that our vision for Harlow and Gilston Garden Town is realised and would most certainly demonstrate the County’s intent to support the ambition of Harlow Council and its Garden Town partners.

I hope to hear from you with a positive response about this essential issue.

Yours sincerely

Councillor Mark Ingall