from Adam Tranter

 Morning Tim,

I don't recognise many of the characterisations you make in your email on transport schemes, but I did want to follow up on the cycle route following our discussions outside the lifts in Summer Lane.

After discussing with Black Country Transport (BCT), to the best of my knowledge the situation is as follows:

Over the summer, BCT began the development of a business case for work to upgrade the Smestow Valley path between Dudley and Wolverhampton, building on earlier feasibility work.  Site visits were made to the sections of the path within Wolverhampton and Dudley.

Also at this time the Black Country Local Walking and Cycling Infrastructure Plan was in preparation.  The sections of this route within Wolverhampton and Dudley were included in a long list of desirable schemes and subject to assessment by various criteria set out in the Network Planning section of the BCLCWIP.  Owing to the 5-year timescale for delivery of the BCLCWIP and the resource and other constraints governing the number of schemes that can be progressed simultaneously, the two top-scoring routes for each Highway Authority area were selected for further development, to be progressed in the near future.  The Dudley section of this route fell into the top 2 for Dudley and so this will be developed in the coming year with a view to delivery in successive years.  The Wolverhampton section did not fall into the top two for Wolverhampton so at this stage it is not a priority for development.  However, having been included in the BCLCWIP increases the likelihood the route will be developed in the medium term.

In the meantime, a Heritage Lottery Fund application is in progress with a view to making minor improvements to the route in Wolverhampton.  An update on this has been sought by officers.

So that you understand the process, routes have to be on a Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) in order to have the best chance of securing funding from Government.

Sustrans manages the National Cycling Network and allocates route numbers. As previously explained, they are currently reviewing all routes because some do not meet the standards people would expect from pieces of national infrastructure. I'd suggest, in my own opinion, that allocating a NCN number to the Black Country Cycle-Walk Mudway, as you describe it, wouldn't add any benefit and frustrate people further that the route is not to a quality that's useful.

People need a variety of cycle routes for journeys - including quiet routes, off-road and segregated cycleways on main roads. Generally, funding is prioritised from Government for routes that are going to deliver benefits for the most number of people to help deliver "modal shift" - hence, priority to some of the A road corridors which will benefit from bus and active travel priority. But, as mentioned above, that doesn't mean other routes will be ignored.

So, in summary:

• The route is now in the right strategy documents to secure future funding
• Some parts of the route are being prioritised for progression
• Others parts are earmarked for funding bids in medium-term
• A funding bid for minor improvements has gone in to Heritage Lottery Fund
• An NCN number would not add value, but confusion

I'll continue to keep an eye on the development of this route, following our conversation.

Best,

Adam Tranter

Cycling & Walking Commissioner