Tunnel cyclepath lights to be switched off at night
The lights in two old railway tunnels which will be at the heart of a new cycle path will have to be switched off for four hours each night - to protect bats.
Residents' groups have expressed worries over safety in the tunnels to the south of Bath which will be a key part of the new Two Tunnels Greenway route due to open in 2012.
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two tunnels
Environmental charity Sustrans has always insisted that it will be able to restrict anti-social behaviour along the £1.9 million route which would be open 24 hours a day through the one-mile-long Combe Down Tunnel and the 440-yard Devonshire Tunnel.
A report compiled by the Bristol-based organisation for Bath and North East Somerset Council reveals that gates will be erected at each end of both tunnels. These could be shut if crime problems - which could range from vandalism to muggings - develop.
The report says the gates could be shut at night but that any decision to take such action should be made in consultation with the voluntary steering group behind the project and with local residents' associations.
The tunnels will be covered by CCTV cameras around the clock, although a risk assessment carried out by Sustrans rates the chance of a personal attack in the tunnels as low.
A complicating factor is the presence of bats in both tunnels, meaning that the lights will be switched off every night between 11pm and 3am in line with a request from the Government agency Natural England. The CCTV system would feature infra red technology to allow movement to be detected during these hours.
Both the Lyncombe Vale Road Residents' Association and the Widcombe Association have expressed concern to the council about night-time security in the tunnels. The Lyncombe Vale group has also raised the possibility that mobile phones may not work in the tunnels.
The four-mile route - which Sustrans expects to be used for a million journeys by bike and on foot each year - would be patrolled by volunteer rangers, who the report says will provide peace of mind and support to users.
It says it has experience of managing routes on former railway lines with tunnels.
It says: "Sustrans' experience has shown that while some areas may attract anti-social behaviour prior to development, with the increased use of the route, casual and informal surveillance of the route will increase, reducing anti-social behaviour."
The scheme is being funded by £1 million of lottery money through Sustrans, along with £200,000 from the proceeds of the King Bladud's Pigs Project and £400,000 from B&NES.
Most of the land needed for the route - which will run through Oldfield Park, Lyncombe Vale, Monkton Combe and Midford - has been acquired or is already in council ownership.
Among the last sections to be sorted out is a stretch near Midford Castle, which has recently been sold by actor Nicolas Cage.
Sustrans' report is among a number of documents regarding the council's involvement in the scheme which now need approval from two of the authority's cabinet members, Councillor Charles Gerrish and Councillor Malcolm Hanney.
A guided walk of the route will take place on Saturday.
It starts from the northern end of Linear Park, close to the Royal Oak pub at Lower Bristol Road at 10am. It will not be possible to go through either of the tunnels, so the walk will go over the top of Combe Down and Devonshire on the Wellsway. The distance is four miles. Everyone is welcome. Contact Matt Skidmore on 07967 381087 for more details.
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by Bill W, Timsbury
Sunday, February 14 2010, 11:01AM
“Torches .. cycle lights, these items were used by children & adults in an era when "boys" were not afraid of their own shadow. Where "girls" were also quite used to the dark. If you are scared about the world that you live in, take someone to hold your hand.
Most modern cycle lights are far more efficent (and 10 times brighter) than the stuff we had as children in the 1950s. As for that long dark "scary" tunnel, mind out the bogey man don`t get you .............!”
by Mark A, Bath
Monday, February 01 2010, 11:36PM
“If they come from Bath, get them to ask their mums and dads about it.
Before it was blocked up, a walk through the Midford tunnel was a regular Sunday outing.
No lights, no cctv, sometimes not even a torch. A branch held out to the tunnel wall would get you through, though that was hilarious if people were coming the other way. And yes, of course it was scary. 'Scary' was one of the reasons we came back and did the same again.”
by John, Larkhall
Monday, February 01 2010, 11:56AM
“I vox popped four young guys in the pub over the weekend about the two tunnels scheme. None of them had heard of the project so I explained it to them, including the length of the tunnels. All four said "no way" would they cycle through the tunnels alone, or with their girlfriends. They would only do so with one or two mates, but never alone. One also said what was the point of going out for a ride on your bike to end up in a tunnel.”
by Paul Crossley, Bathwick
Thursday, January 28 2010, 10:05AM
“The Two Tunnels is a fantastic scheme and yes there will be problems on the way. Bats are always an issue that need resolving in and around Bath and bats are important too. The Council needs to stop sitting on the fence and get on and sign off on its part of the scheme so that Two Tunnels can become a reality.”
by Roger Symonds, Combe Down
Wednesday, January 27 2010, 11:03AM
“Despite this negative story, the vast majority of the comments are positive. This is a success story of fantastic fund raising, partnership working (and hasn't that had its problems) and above all of a few people who had a dream and made it happen.”
by J Ash, South Bath
Wednesday, January 27 2010, 10:14AM
“How easy it would be to become dispirited with the reactionary and narrow-minded negative feedback that a few people post on here. I hope the council and the general public remember the huge groundswell of positive opinion that the project has generated thus far and proceed with what will be a fantastic asset to cyclists and walkers in the area.
I hope the tunnels will be open soon and can't wait to start using them.”
by Paul Wiltshire, Deputy editor
Wednesday, January 27 2010, 6:32AM
“To answer Frank's point, it might be useful for me to share an email I have just sent him........
Frank
Thanks for your comments, most of which I entirely accept.
It may be your view that I have chosen a negative slant and I may be saying the same thing if I was in your shoes.
But I have also chosen the most interesting angle.
News is about the unusual and about what gets people talking ¿ and turning the lights off for much of the night in a tunnel which houses a public right of way seems to fit the bill on both scores.
Once the dust has settled on this and Charles Gerrish has agreed to crack on, I¿d be delighted to do a feature on how the scheme will unfold and reflect on the many hours of unpaid work that has got us this far................”
by Matthew Holbrook, Timsbury
Wednesday, January 27 2010, 6:14AM
“I'm looking forward to the route opening. This project has been in the planning stages for years and there can't be any aspects that have been forgotten! I never realised how dangerous the Wellow area was! The organised group rides I've been on from Radstock must have been lucky! Come on, that's probably the place I drive the slowest. A winding road, a school on a bend, a 20MPH limit and masses of park cars. There's no way you can tear through there. I feel perfectly safe in this area on a bike and hope it's not too much longer before I have a significantly extended flat route into Bath.”
by geojay, Bath
Wednesday, January 27 2010, 12:40AM
“I sincerely hope this gets the nod. I can see many benefits to the scheme; as a tourist attraction, providing a circular route in combination with the canal, giving kids an traffic-free way of getting to school within Oldfield Park.
I appreciate there are concerns but honestly think the risk of the potential downsides are minimal and easily managed if they do ever occur. The consultation, planning and consideration that has gone into this project is really very thorough and should serve as an example to the council. The project also benefits from the backing of Sustrans who are experienced in these matters. I really hope the council continues to support it and don't embarrass us on the matter.”
by Phil, Bath
Wednesday, January 27 2010, 12:02AM
“Reasons to back the scheme:
1. Value for money
This project is costing us residents via the council £400K. Lottery funding and other fund raising are covering four fifths of the cost. In return we will get a fantastic free facility, for a little over 1% of the cost of the Spa.
2. Health benefits
Cycling is good for your health
3. Access to the countryside for the carless
4. Environment
A viable non-car commuter route from the South of Bath
Reasons to oppose the scheme:
1. An 'undesirable' person might enter a dark tunnel at night not far from where someone (presumably desirable) else lives.”