Downs Link Work
After two weeks of trying out cycle commuting in the Winter and trying to find a route which enables me to avoid riding through muddy water up to my hubs, I took advantage of the good old Freedom Of Information Act to quiz my County Council on their plans for the maintenance or possible improvement to the Downs Link.
I found out some things that are very encouraging - they are currently prepping and resurfacing the stretch between Bramley and Birtley Green - not very far, but they will be using the same high-quality surfacing that they have used between Peasmarsh and Bramley, so hurrah!
Also, the major drainage issues are being looked at on the part of the route that is not currently being resurfaced, although there are longer-term plans to close the gap between Bramley and Cranleigh and have the whole route surfaced to the same quality. Sigh. That would be just great.
I've also received a mail from the Ranger advising that he's been looking at the more dangerous of the trees along the route and making them safe - this is reassuring following the recent storms.
So soon, it may be possible to use that whole offroad route all year round. That would make life a lot easier.
I found out some things that are very encouraging - they are currently prepping and resurfacing the stretch between Bramley and Birtley Green - not very far, but they will be using the same high-quality surfacing that they have used between Peasmarsh and Bramley, so hurrah!
Also, the major drainage issues are being looked at on the part of the route that is not currently being resurfaced, although there are longer-term plans to close the gap between Bramley and Cranleigh and have the whole route surfaced to the same quality. Sigh. That would be just great.
I've also received a mail from the Ranger advising that he's been looking at the more dangerous of the trees along the route and making them safe - this is reassuring following the recent storms.
So soon, it may be possible to use that whole offroad route all year round. That would make life a lot easier.
posted by Catherine at 20:38
2 Comments:
FOIA is so useful at times...
Well absolutely! Until I did my "awareness" training about it at work, I had no idea that I had the right to approach public bodies and get answers to all sorts of things. I really was used to the whole "what's it to you?" old-style culture. I can only really praise highly the way that Surrey County Council have responded. It also seems that they have a real committment to getting this route sorted as the work that they describe has already commenced. Hurrah! No more being jarred into insensibility. I'll have to find another excuse for that now!
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