Denbighshire Council Thorns Highways Act 1980

Chaps and Chapesses - How many of you are getting flats still from thorns that have been left from the farmers?

In our office its becoming less than funny. Bodelwyddan, St. Asaph, Rhuddlan, Melyd, Dyserth. Bad places being by the lights for Bodelwyddan at Rhyddlan, the A55 slip road path, and Rhuddlan Dyserth path. Flat after flat after flat, and more than a week after it made the front page of the Denbighshire Visitor (slow news week or otherwise that's a front page).

I have been speaking with our local CTC representative Roy Spilsbury over in Conwy - who is very much aware of the issue, and is continuing to campaign on our behalves.

The following to our local representatives along with CC's to local police / council.

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Ann Jones AM
Chris Ruane MP

Ann, Chris

Trust you are both in fine fettle Your support and intervention with Denbighshire CC is urgently required.

As a CTC representative I am being inundated with reports from cycle users seriously inconvenienced by punctures caused by thorned hedge trimmings on the cycle paths and the public highways in your constituencies.. I draw your attention to the response of Denbighshire CC to the DENBIGHSHIRE VISITOR article last week http://www.denbighshirevisitor.com/news/denbighshire-news/2008/10/22/denbighshire-cyclists-fury-over-dangerous-hedge-trimmings-105722-22091307/

Note the final paragraph ------ "A spokesman for Denbighshire County Council said the responsibility for cutting hedges and clearing up the cuttings is that of the landowner". This is clearly an attempt to deny a duty of enforcement under the Highways Act 1980. Can you imagine the police or highway authority showing the same disinterest if someone dumped a load of scrap iron in the middle of any road within its area of responsibility?

Several weeks ago a complaint was lodged with Denbighshire CC. That incident may be seen at
http://www.cyclingnorthwales.co.uk/pages/hedge_cutting.htm. The section of cycle path alongside the A525 was cleared. but within days a further section was left uncleared after hedge cutting. It is difficult to avoid the conclusion that whoever was responsible had no knowledge of the law, or was contemptuous of the impact on passing cycle users.

At county officer level there appears to be an understanding of the serious consequences for all cyclists acquiring punctures, not least those travelling to and from work. In this respect there has been some response, and we are grateful for that. But it is clear there is no corporate policy in place to take firm action against those responsible for breaking the law.

It should be understood that this is not just an issue of personal inconvenience for individual cycle users. It's ramifications are far wider (public health, environmentally sensitive travel etc) - not least for those employers relying upon there workers arriving on time, many of whom, including local authorities, are financing schemes to encourage cycling to work.

CTC regards the problem of highway neglect and abuse as very serious indeed, Recently it's solicitors legal took action against a landowner failing to clear up after hedge cutting. For damage and injury suffered by one of its members it secured £3000 compensation from the NFU insurers.

You will recall in the aftermath of the Abergele tragedy all the fine words supporting cycling and cycle users , not least Chris's address to the Commons http://www.theyworkforyou.com/whall/?id=2007-07-17c.50.1. From an insider point of view however, it was clear from the outset that those day to day matters that concerned cyclists most, such as support, protection and the understanding of the public and government, were being insidiously air-brushed out of the frame. Within that context Denbighshire's stance on hedge cutting provides grounds for that belief.

In respect of the Denbighshire situation, may I request you urge the county to establish a dedicated telephone and email hotline warning system for cycle users who encounter hazardous road conditions. This would need to be widely publicised and backed by a protocol of strict enforcement on offenders who fail to act within the terms of the 1980 Highway Act which carries a penalty maximum of £1000 for causing an obstruction.

Chris in his address to the Commons referred to local lessons having implications for the whole country. He is quite correct. By taking action in the way suggested above, Denbighshire could take a lead for other local authorities to follow, in encouraging far more people to cycle in the knowledge that their interests are genuinely understood, and not just an opportunity for virtuous public policy statements.

As this is a matter of wide public interest, a copy of this message is being circulated to other parties, including the press.

I would appreciate being kept informed of your actions

All regards

Roy
Accredited Cyclist's Rights Representative for Conwy/Denbighshire
CTC Cymru - Welsh region of the 70,000 member national cycling organisation.

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While I am not advocating Cotton Duck, Carradice, Sam Brownes or Beards - the CTC is doing a fine job, and could do with our support in feedback on experiences.

It seems less than random that I can get on average two flats for two riders covering a total of 30 miles a day, yet I can Sunday ride (it happened) and escape without expense or inconvenience?

How many of the rest of you are suffering in silence - or am I just a random magnet for flats by way of a penance of not being out for ever?