PROPOSED SIGNAGE CHANGE ALONG THE GREEN

As stated in the first draft of our Initial Feasibility Study published in August 2020, the DLWTRAIL Residents’ Committee favours a two-pronged approach: 1: LONG TERM: Implementation of a segregated active travel trail between Diseworth & Long Whatton. 2: SHORT TERM: Some form of traffic calming along The Green.

This document addresses Short Term activity with proposed amended signage along The Green, to be implemented in Summer 2021. Following our lobbying of Leicestershire County Council with the strong support of Long Whatton & Diseworth Parish Council, LCC has surveyed the stretch of road involved and issued the following plan for amended signage:

The new signage will be at locations S1 and S4 with messaging to the effect of “Pedestrians In Road” and / or “No Footway” for the specified distance (we estimate about 1.5 miles). The existing signage at locations R2 and R3 will be removed as redundant. This improves on the existing signage (without adding more signage) and stresses to motorists the nature of the hazards which they can expect to see along that stretch. We have been advised that we can expect this work to be carried out in Summer 2021. Your DLWTRAIL Committee welcomes this as a “quick win”, although it’s not the longer-term solution which we continue to seek. However, it is a recognition by LCC that there is an issue along this stretch of road, and we welcome this action they propose in response to our lobbying. Whatever we ultimately achieve in terms of a separate traffic-free trail, we still believe that a reduction of the speed limit to 40mph for the entire length of the road between the two villages is the best solution, and we will not stop lobbying for it. However, that solution is beset by legal and bureaucratic issues which we have so far been unable to overcome.

CONCLUSION: We take comfort that we have been listened to, and welcome a stronger message being sent to drivers about their need for caution and respect for active travellers along The Green. However, it is only one step along the road to a more robust solution for which we continue to campaign. Thank you to LCC for listening to us, and to LWDPC for continuing to support our campaign for safer active travel between Diseworth & Long Whatton. Mike Doyle ____________________________________________________________

On behalf of DLWTRAIL: Active Travel between Diseworth & Long Whatton Web: www.dlwtrail.wixsite.com/campaign Email: dlwtrail@outlook.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/DLWTRAIL/

SURVEY DEADLINE: SUNDAY 14th MARCH

Leics County Council will soon be drafting a Cycling and Walking Strategy for Leicestershire. You should have received the Spring 2021 issue of "Leicestershire Matters" - turn to page 4 for the full details. The aim of the strategy will be to support more sustainable travel choices to help the environment and improve health and wellbeing.

Nationally, government wants to see a future where half of all journeys in towns or cities are walked or cycled. The strategy will be designed to encourage, enable and support people to choose to walk and cycle for short journeys in Leicestershire.

As part of drafting the strategy, Leics County Council wants to find out how people usually travel and what barriers they face in making more of their journeys on foot , by wheelchair/mobility scooter, or by bicycle.

Whilst the council’s budgets are tight, having a clear strategy will help them identify external funding to improve cycling and walking opportunities in Leicestershire.

IF OUR DLWTRAIL CAMPAIGN IS TO SUCCEED, IT IS VITAL THAT SUPPORT FOR IT FEATURES STRONGLY IN LCC'S SURVEY. PLEASE PARTICIPATE IN THE SURVEY, AND USE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE COMMENTS ON WHY YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE SAFER FACILITIES FOR ACTIVE TRAVEL BETWEEN LONG WHATTON & DISEWORTH. Here's a link to the survey: www.leicestershire.gov.uk/have-your-say/current-consultations/cycling-and-walking-engagement-survey THE SURVEY CLOSES SUNDAY 14th MARCH - Please don't delay completing it! We'd also appreciate it if you comment on this post to confirm that you've participated, so we can get an idea of the response rate from Long Whatton & Diseworth residents. You can also help by sharing the link to the survey with others! Thank you. - Your DLWTRAIL Campaign Committee

PLEASE COMPLETE & PROMOTE the LEICS COUNTY COUNCIL CYCLING & WALKING ENGAGEMENT SURVEY

HOW CAN YOU HELP US RIGHT NOW? By completing the LEICS COUNTY COUNCIL CYCLING & WALKING ENGAGEMENT SURVEY at this link: www.leicestershire.gov.uk/have-your-say/current-consultations/cycling-and-walking-engagement-survey

We’ve been making modest progress on the DLWTRAIL campaign during challenging times since our December 2020 update. Right now, we’re asking ALL our supporters to please complete the survey at the link above. A massive response from residents of Long Whatton & Diseworth is vital at this point. Right now, there is so much competition for limited funding for improving active travel infrastructure, that we need to really up our game to get heard.

COMPLETING THE SURVEY: It need take no more than about 15 minutes but PLEASE, if you can, personalise your response by making specific comments about why you feel that safe active travel (ie walking, cycling, wheeling, horse riding) provision between our two villages needs improving. What would need to happen to make things better? Many of you have already contributed statements of support for our Dossier Of Demand, and we sincerely thank you for that. However, we now need you to record your views in this survey. Demonstrating continued strong support is VITAL at this stage. Please:

1. Complete the survey and, if you can, include comments relevant to Long Whatton & Diseworth.

2. Talk to your friends and neighbours and encourage them to do the same.

For background information on the DLWTRAIL campaign, please visit our campaign website: https://dlwtrail.wixsite.com/campaign

You may also wish to reference our Feasibility Study. There’s a link to it on the ABOUT page of our website: https://dlwtrail.wixsite.com/campaign/about

At this stage, it’s vital that we use LCC’s survey to combine our voices and be heard. The deadline for completing the survey is 14th March. Here’s the link to it again: www.leicestershire.gov.uk/have-your-say/current-consultations/cycling-and-walking-engagement-survey

EVERY VOICE COUNTS - PLEASE BE ONE OF THEM!

Thank you.

Mike Doyle

- on behalf of the DLWTRAIL Campaign Committee