Connect2 is a Sustrans organised UK-wide project that aims to improve local travel in communities by creating new walking and cycling routes for the local journeys we all make every day. It is one of six projects competing for a single grant of up to £50 million from the Big Lottery Fund's Living Landmarks: The People's Millions competition which was decided by public television vote in December 2007.
Each scheme will connect people to the places they want to get to by overcoming barriers such as busy roads, rivers and railway lines. They will build bridges and new crossings and link them to networks of walking and cycling routes so that people will have direct access to their schools, shops and work, as well as green spaces.
Sustrans sent letters out to local councils and community groups, inviting them to submit their bids for the connect2 project. North Lincolnshire Council submitted Scunthorpe Ridgeway, which runs from North to the South of Scunthorpe. The project has been developed from the Urban Renaissance work in 2004, where people stated what they wanted to see in Scunthorpe and other resident requests made to the council as well as the wider vision the council has for developing walking and cycling opportunities in Scunthorpe. It was also the vision of the 1920s planner, Sir Patrick Abercrombie to join together the five villages, which today make up Scunthorpe, reinforced by a coherent network of green spaces and a comprehensive network for people to move between the various residential areas.
There are 79 proposed Connect2 schemes and 20 reserves around the UK. Each scheme will be inspirational in design but sensitive to the character of the local area. If for any reason the top 79 proposed schemes drop out, then a reserved scheme will take its place.
North Lincolnshire Council submitted a successful bid to Sustrans as part of the Connect2 project for the development of an off-road pedestrian/cycle facility that runs through the western side of Scunthorpe, from the A1077 to High Leys Road. The scheme, the largest that has been proposed in the area is estimated to cost around £3.3 million and will provide a safe route away from traffic, encourage more sustainable travel and healthy lifestyles and provide an excellent route linking some of the key facilities in the area for example, schools, colleges, Scunthorpe town centre, central park, The Pods and Atkinson's warren. It links in with a range of other areas such as improving health and reducing obesity, safe routes to school and reducing the school run and reducing the carbon footprint of large organisations. The total cost of the Core Route set out in the bid is approximately £3.3 million of which Sustrans have provisionally allocated £1 million to the scheme, as Connect2 have but successful in the televised vote in December 2007.
Connect2 is a real opportunity to transform local travel in communities around the Scunthorpe area and would have a positive effect on people's health and the environment.
In general the project consists of the following:
- Providing an off road cycle and pedestrian facility approximately 3.5 metres in width, long the Scunthorpe Ridgeway which is currently a public right of way
- The works include replacement/renewal of resurfacing along the route
- New kerbing to allow access for non motorised traffic, for example, pedestrians and cyclists
- Redesign of junctions to allow pedestrian and cyclist free-flow access over motorised traffic. This may include controlled or non-control crossing, depending on the traffic flow and speeds.
- Two new bridges, one over West Common Lane and the otherover Bridges Road.Depending on finance and the costs on construction. If finances are at risk, cost saving could be made on an alterative option to build an on-road facility between Bridges Road and link up with the West Common Bridge.
- New signs and street lighting will need to be provide as part of the detailed design
- Removal of earthworks will need to be carried out for the propose of cutting and filling.
The project is a five-year scheme, from 1 April 2009 to April/May 2013. Within the five years each year will be broken down into phases. The phases (P) are as follows:
More information
For further details on the Big Lottery Connect2 scheme, please contact Gwyneth McMinn on 01724 297000 or email gwyneth.mcminn@northlincs.gov.uk.
