Landowners Hinder 117 Miles of Traffic-Free Cycle Routes, New Report Reveals

A newly published analysis reveals that a significant stretch of 117 miles of traffic-free active travel pathways across the United Kingdom is being held up due to opposition from property owners. This delay, compounded by insufficient financial backing and governmental resolve, compels local populations to spearhead initiatives for developing greenways and alternative transit options. Consequently, numerous communities find themselves isolated, with limited transportation choices beyond private vehicles.

This week saw the introduction of a comprehensive guide, 'Rural path campaigns: Where magic meets tarmac,' authored by prominent active travel advocate and journalist Laura Laker. The guide is specifically designed to equip local residents with the necessary tools and insights to champion the creation of greenways in their respective regions. Laker's research, which included Freedom of Information requests, indicated that land access disputes are impeding projects in 23 out of 73 local authorities, affecting 117 miles of planned routes. She further noted that a majority of local councils exhibit little proactive effort in path development, leaving community groups to struggle for the realization of over 200 miles of paths across more than 50 locations, with many of these projects facing delays for years, or even decades.

An official from a local council shared with Laker the immense challenges involved in transforming disused railway lines into pathways, stating that a single uncooperative landowner can halt progress for years. This often necessitates considering alternative routes due to the exhaustive effort required to advance a project incrementally. In response to these obstacles, various communities are devising innovative approaches, garnering support, and driving these projects forward independently.

Illustrative examples include the Sheppey Light Rail Greenway group on Kent’s Isle of Sheppey, where volunteers took it upon themselves to clear overgrown paths after decades of unfulfilled promises for a traffic-free route. The project gained momentum with community backing, the support of a new council officer, and eventually, funding and assistance from local businesses and the government, aided by amenable landowners. Similarly, residents in Curry Rivel, Somerset, conceived and constructed a 200-meter path alongside a busy road, a step towards connecting their village to Langport via a safe active travel route. They secured climate emergency funding from Somerset Council, supplemented by a local landowner, and are now working on expanding this pathway. In rural Dumfries and Galloway, the Kier Penpont and Tynron Development Trust successfully raised funds from diverse sources, including a local wind farm, to create a 4km traffic-free link between villages, identifying it as a top local priority.

Laker's toolkit draws inspiration from these successful endeavors, offering a structured approach to establishing traffic-free routes. It covers everything from initial concept development to actual construction, guiding users through collaboration with landowners and councils, understanding relevant policies, securing funding, and managing volunteers. This initiative has received support from various organizations, including the National Cycle Network and the Canal and River Trust. Laker expressed profound satisfaction with the project, highlighting the inspirational dedication of small groups of individuals who, often over many years, remain committed to improving their communities, particularly for children. She emphasized that the case studies underscore the extraordinary difficulty of constructing traffic-free routes in the country, noting a stark contrast with the well-funded, national-level delivery of road and rail networks. Instead, retired professionals are often left to navigate land access, funding, and political will for walking, cycling, and wheeling paths. This disparity leaves communities isolated, dependent on cars, an unsustainable situation given rising fuel costs. Despite the numerous hurdles, from planning complexities to a lack of rural active transport funding, communities persist. Laker hopes her toolkit and the stories of success will inspire further route development nationwide, significantly reducing implementation times from decades to years. She also aims to highlight the substantial benefits these paths bring, such as enabling mobility scooter users to access nature and children to cycle to school safely. While government funding often prioritizes urban areas, these rural paths are arguably most critical where transport options are limited, enhancing local economies, health, and access to nature. Creative approaches to accessing existing rural path funding are essential to realizing these vital infrastructure projects.