Elections
List of questions
Here is a list of all the questions (across all divisions) we have asked for this election:
- What experiences do you or your family members have of cycling for either transport or leisure? Bearing in mind that e-bikes can now make County Durham's hills easy, what would you consider to be the main barriers which prevent more people from cycling in your area, and how would you tackle these?
Read all answers… - Schools in County Durham have bike shelters but they are often empty. Children who might like to cycle are often driven to school because parents don't consider our streets safe enough for children to walk or cycle. What are your views about cycling as a travel option for children? What practical changes would you like to see in your area to enable children to cycle?
Read all answers… - The surge in cycling during the Covid 19 lockdowns showed how quieter and safer conditions encourage people to cycle. Cycling can help address many issues:
* the climate emergency, if people cycle instead of making shorter journeys by car
* social inclusion, because cycling is affordable and enables those on low incomes to access employment and other opportunities
* the health crisis, as exercise incorporated into journeys is very effective
How big a role do you think cycling can play in tackling these urgent issues? How can Durham County Council increase investment in cycling and quickly deliver safe, complete cycle routes to key destinations?
Read all answers… - Air and noise pollution from traffic is a problem in urban areas throughout the County. What actions would you propose to help reduce this pollution, which is a known risk to health and wellbeing? Would you, for example, support a Car Free Day once a month promoted by Durham County Council and major employers who would encourage employees to walk, cycle, or use the bus to travel to work?
Read all answers… - With the cancellation of the Western Relief Road, Durham County Council's highways team is exploring increasing the number of lanes on the A167 between Sniperley roundabout and Neville's Cross. The footway on the east side of the road is currently shared between pedestrians and cyclists. Government design guidance would require people walking and cycling to be given separate, rather than shared, space on a main road, but it will not be possible to add motor traffic lanes and also improve the cycling and walking provision. Crossing the Sniperley roundabout on foot or by bike is scary. There is often congestion around Durham Johnson School during the school terms.
What is your preferred way forward for the A167 through Crossgate Moor?
Read all answers… - Margery Lane and Quarryheads Lane past Durham School are very busy with pedestrians, especially students during the university term. The pavement width is quite inadequate. It is also an important cycling link. Motor traffic on this road is often too fast and people walking and cycling can feel intimidated and unsafe.
During the New Elvet Bridge works the road has been closed to most traffic northbound and the conditions have been much better. Would you support this being made permanent? What other solutions would you propose if not?
Read all answers… - There is a good cycle route from West Rainton along the A690 to the Belmont Park and Ride, but there is no protected space for cycling through Carrville and Belmont and Gilesgate into Durham. Such a route would also be useful for cycling to Belmont Comprehensive School. Would you be prepared to priortise this as an issue?
Read all answers… - Since National Cycle Network routes 14 and 70 were established, there has been a diversion onto the roads between Sherburn and Low Pittington. The footpath along the old railway line from Renny's Lane to Low Pittington has never been made suitable for cycling, despite many other railway paths in the county being open for cycling. What would you do to improve this situation?
Read all answers… - The Belmont Link Road is a national speed limit road, but is the only cycle access to the Belmont Industrial Estate. People working there, or collecting parcels from the Royal Mail sorting office, have to risk mixing with 60mph traffic. How do you think this situation should be dealt with?
Read all answers… - There is currently a planning application for housing on the former green belt land at Bent House Lane. The developer has proposed improving footpaths in the area, but people in the area also need safe cycling routes to the local schools and to employment and services. Would you be prepared to priortise this as an issue?
Read all answers… - Hallgarth Street and Church Street are both key links without safe cycling facilities. For example, there is a good off-road route from Mount Oswald to the Whitechurch junction, but no safe route onwards into the city. There are many demands on road space, including car parking, and the pavements are congested with the heavy university flows in term time. Making each street one-way might allow for safe cycle lanes and pavement widening. Would you support such measures, or do you have any alternative proposals?
Read all answers… - When the historic roads through the city centre were closed to traffic after Leazes Road was built, no thought was given to how people might cycle from one side of the city centre to the other. From Claypath you can officially proceed across the Milburngate Bridge or via the Bailey. From Elvet you can take the underpass at Leazes Bowl or circumnavigate the peninsula via Quarryheads Lane. What changes would you like to see to make crossing the city centre safe and accessible for people cycling?
Read all answers… - While there is a narrow shared-use cycle/pedestrian path along the A177 from Bowburn to the south end of High Shincliffe, from there into Durham there are many long gaps in provision, particularly on Shincliffe Bank. There was a fatal collision near High Shincliffe in November 2017 when a cyclist on the road was killed by a car driver. How much priority would you give to creating a safe cycle route for people to use?
Read all answers… - Would you support reallocating road space on Front Street, Lanchester, to give safe space for cycling and to shift the balance of priorities from cars to people?
Read all answers… - Colleges like Stephenson, Josephine Butler and Collingwood now have an excellent off-road cycle route recently opened by the University which links as far as the Bill Bryson Library and the Whitechurch junction. But anyone wanting to continue along Church Street to reach New Elvet and the city centre is faced with cycling on Church Street, which often has heavy traffic. What measures would you promote to complete the cycle link into the city?
Read all answers… - Deerness has some great off-road routes but they don't connect with Durham City, being blocked by the A167, and there is no provision on Neville's Cross Bank & Lowes Barn Bank. What would you do to connect villages like Bearpark, Ushaw Moor and Broompark to enable cycling to the city?
Read all answers… - The Brandon railway path is a great asset, but it does not meet its full potential because there is no safe cycling connection to Durham City. A more direct link from Langley Moor is needed, and there is no cycling provision on Neville's Cross Bank or Lowes Barn Bank. What would you do to connect Brandon, Meadowfield and Langley Moor to the network in Durham City to enable more people to cycle?
Read all answers… - The off-road cycle routes in Deerness are not practical for many journeys, especially in the winter when there is little daylight at commuting times. What would be your priorities for investing in safe cycle routes alongside the main roads in this division?
Read all answers… - Major private investment is going into the development of the Integra 61 site at Bowburn. The initial planning application estimated that 97% of employees at this development would arrive by car. Despite the obvious need, there have been no improvements in the area to give people safe cycle or walking routes to Integra 61. Connections from Coxhoe, West Cornforth, Ferryhill and Spennymoor could all be provided. Would you commit to working to get safe routes delivered, and how do you think this could be achieved?
Read all answers… - Would you support the creation of a cycle lane/shared use path to enable people to cycle in safety and make cycling a viable alternative to car use between the settlements of Chester le Street, Pelton Fell and Craghead? How soon could this be built?
The B6313 which runs from Chester le Street to Craghead is a steep hill. The speed limit increases from 30mph to 40mph, then national speed limit beyond Pelton Fell. As a result people do not feel safe cycling in both directions with vehicles travelling in excess of 60mph on the downhill, and when riding uphill from the town centre to Pelton Fell and beyond, slow moving cyclists are at risk of being hit from behind by vehicles.
Read all answers… - The Great North Cycleway (GNC) is used by both commuters and leisure cyclists and is a cycle route on a shared use path alongside the A167. Unfortunately there are no links to neighbouring settlements, for example: Great Lumley, Bournmoor, Fencehouses, Woodstone Village and West Rainton. The B1284 is busy and has a 60mph limit with some narrow stretches and blind bends which creates hazards for cyclists yet could be an ideal link between the GCN, Chester le Street and these settlements. Would you support a proposal to create a shared use path or cycle lane along this road to enable people to cycle safely and thereby provide a viable alternative to car travel between these settlements?
Read all answers… - Park Road North is used by many cyclists wanting to access North Road and the C2C route from the A167 Great North Cycle Route (GNC). Park Road North has cycle lanes on both carriageways but these frequently have cars parked in them forcing cyclists out into the road. What would be your vision for making this area safer for people cycling?
Read all answers… - Over the last year a Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) has been prepared for Chester-le-Street by consultants working for the County Council. This will set out the improvements that are needed to enable people to walk and cycle their journeys around the town. Will you commit to working to get a good proportion of this plan implemented during your term of office?
Read all answers… - Over the last year a Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) has been prepared for Newton Aycliffe by consultants working for the County Council. This will set out the improvements that are needed to enable people to walk and cycle their journeys around the town. Will you commit to working to get a good proportion of this plan implemented during your term of office?
Read all answers… - Temporary protected bike lanes were put in on Front Street and Rotary Way to help people cycle safely during the lockdowns as an alternative to public transport and car use. Would you like to see these made permanent, and how could they be improved and connected to more destinations?
Read all answers… - The County Council's Strategic Cycling and Walking Delivery Plan proposes completion of the Great North Cycle Route along the A167 within the next four years, which will provide Ferryhill and Chilton with a cycling link to Newton Aycliffe. This will be useful for accessing employment. The project has been delayed many times, and further north where the path has already been improved, there have been no changes at the many busy roundabouts so people still do not feel safe using this route. How can you ensure this project is completed on time to a good standard?
Read all answers… - The Coast Road between Blackhall Colliery and Blackhall Rocks is quite wide, but a lot of space is devoted to white hatching in the centre and right-hand turn pockets. Would you support reallocating the road space so that protected cycle lanes can be provided to link these communities?
Read all answers… - The junction of the A67 and Harmire Road (B6278) in Barnard Castle is wide and complicated, and presents a challenge for people walking or cycling in the area. How would you like to see this made safer, and are there any other junctions that you think need improving to make the town, or the rural areas, more cycle and pedestrian friendly?
Read all answers… - Getting from Langley Park to the cycle path along the A691 to Witton Gilbert and Durham City involves a few challenges: crossing the main road to Wallnook Lane, negotiating the barriers at Wallnook Bridge, crossing the main road at the roundabout on the A691, and the various junctions from there to Durham. What measures would you like to see implemented to improve the safety of this route and make cycling possible for more of the community?
Read all answers… - The housing development at Sniperley Park is likely to come forward as a planning application soon. What sustainable transport improvements would you like to see provided in order to minimise the impact on the road network of this large site? Will you secure good-quality cycling routes connecting to Framwellgate Moor and Durham city centre for access to employment, schools and shops, as envisaged in the Durham City Sustainable Transport Delivery Plan?
Read all answers… - The new shared use path along the B1285 from Hetton le Hole is of huge benefit to cyclists on this National Speed Limit road but on reaching Murton it isn't clear if cyclists should remain on the narrower footway or rejoin the road.
What are your views on whether cyclists should rejoin the road despite the increasing volume of traffic encountered towards Dalton Park and the A19? Should there be a clearly signed route on quieter estate roads and then a shared use path after say Woods Terrace enabling people to safely cycle to Murton, Dalton Park, Seaham or the National Cycle Network Route 1?
Read all answers… - Would you support the creation of a new route to Seaham to enable cyclists to avoid crossing the multiple A19 sliproads which can be very hazardous at busy times. A possibility using existing routes which would need some modification would be along Park Road, Barnes Road, Claude Terrace, a public footpath, the footbridge over the A19, a public footpath, crossing the B1285 and entering Seaham through Dalton le Dale. This would be a largely quiet and direct route.
Read all answers… - What are your views on creating a one way system or other restrictions for traffic, along the seafront from Lord Byrons Walk / North Car Park to the harbour area to make more space for cyclists and pedestrians?
At present there is more space allocated to vehicles than to pedestrians, who often spill onto the road, making it harder for people to cycle safely. Drivers looking for parking spaces or admiring the view are a constant hazard, and the air and noise pollution which results is detrimental to health and detracts from the seafront experience.
Restricting access to vehicles would enable some road space to be reallocated to create a wider promenade and a separated cycle lane making it safer and more attractive for non car users.
Read all answers… - Newton Hall has many facilities - schools, libraries, shops - and many people will be making short trips from their homes. Here are a number of ideas which might help people walk and cycle more and leave the car at home for shorter trips. Which of these would you support, and do you have other proposals?
* closing school streets at dropping-off time, to make the approach to school safer for walking and cycling
* raised tables across the roads where the many footpaths cross the roads, to slow traffic down and give pedestrians priority
* cycle lanes on the wider roads, like Carr House Drive
* using the old waggonway to provide a cycle route from Lichfield Road to Pit Lane
* reconfiguring the main roundabouts at Abbey Road, Newton Grange etc. to make them easier to cross on foot or by bike.
Read all answers… - Stanley is close to the C2C long-distance leisure cycle route, along the former railway line, but there is no cycling provision alongside the main roads in the area, for example the A693, which makes it effectively impossible to cycle to Chester le Street, Tanfield Industrial Estates or Consett without using national speed limit roads. How soon would you hope to see good-quality shared-use paths for pedestrians and cyclists provided to link Stanley to neighbouring towns and villages?
Read all answers… - What is your vision for creating an cycling environment of good quality interlinking cycle paths and clear signage to give people living in Stanley the option of cycling as a regular method of transport for work, shopping etc.? How would you deal with the competing demands on road space for traffic flow, parking, and safe provision for people walking and cycling?
Read all answers… - Trimdon, Trimdon Colliery, Thornley, Wingate and Wheatley Hill are all within reasonable cycling distance of each other, but at present anyone cycling between them has to venture onto national speed limit roads with no safe cycling provision. What solutions would you prioritise to enable people to cycle more in the area?
Options could include:
* a good shared-use path on the A181
* closing some of the back lanes to through motor traffic to provide quiet connections for walkers and cyclists
* improving footpaths and bridleways such as Green Lane
Read all answers… - Providing a safe cycle route alongside the road from Crook to Willington would not only connect these two communities but would allow people to continue along the railway path to Bishop Auckland, which would then be within a reasonable commuting distance by bike. People would also have to option of cycling towards Durham. How would you prioritise creating such a link compared with providing cycle lanes and other facilities within Crook itself?
Read all answers… - Now that the Durham Western Relief Road has been rejected, other solutions will be needed to deal with traffic congestion that affects people travelling north-east from Willington. Would you support measures such as cycle routes and a new Park and Ride site that would help people switch to cycling and public transport, and thereby reduce the number of shorter car journeys which add to congestion in Meadowfield, Langley Moor and Crossgate Moor?
Read all answers…
SPACE for Durham is a non-partisan body. All candidates are given an equal opportunity to submit their views. Information published by SPACE for Durham, c/o 35 Archery Rise, Durham, DH1 4LA.