High Wycombe travel consultation: Transport Strategy and Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP)

To achieve the vision, we have identified three ‘connecting’ themes:

• Connecting locally. Allowing everyone to access key destinations, services and travel hubs by providing and promoting active alternatives to the car. Making best use of technology, reducing the need to travel and reducing the distance travelled every day
• Connecting regionally. Strengthening connectivity – digital, energy and transport – to support the movement of people and goods along the Thames Valley to London, Heathrow Airport, Oxford and beyond
• Connecting green spaces. Enhancing health and wellbeing by providing safe, accessible routes to and throughout the town and its unique natural surroundings, including The Chilterns, the River Wye and the Thames

The Transport Strategy proposes 26 schemes that consider all forms of travel across High Wycombe. The schemes are across the following 6 categories:

• Walking and cycling. Support walking or cycling for shorter everyday trips in and around High Wycombe
• Public transport. Higher quality, frequency and coverage of public transport, particularly local bus services. Make travelling by public transport easier and more attractive
• Shared and new mobility. Embracing shared and new mobility modes. This includes demand responsive buses, multi-operator tickets, e-bike / e-scooter hire
• Highways and congestion management. Optimise existing highway network through new technologies and manage traffic congestion
• Land-use, planning and parking. Policies which make better use of available land and support future trends in travel / transport technologies
• Behaviour change. Support a shift in everyday travel habits. Promote uptake of more sustainable forms of travel – cycling, walking and public transport

A growing population, more employment and housing, and a growing economy will lead to more journeys being made in High Wycombe in the future.

There is limited opportunity to increase space on existing roads in High Wycombe. Even if possible, this would not address the negative impacts of traffic on pollution, air quality, road safety and wider public health.

We need a balanced approach to transport planning and provision to support growth and prosperity in High Wycombe.

Development has been heavily informed by engagement with:

• Council officers
• local political members
• local technical stakeholders, such as transport operators and local business leaders
• people who live, work and visit High Wycombe

We have also considered scenarios that could exist by 2050.

Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPs) are a strategic approach to identify walking and cycling improvements in an area.

LCWIPs are a key part of the government’s aim to make walking and cycling the natural transport choice for all short journeys, or as a part of a longer journey.

The key outcomes of a LCWIP include:

• A network plan for cycling and walking which identifies preferred routes and areas for further development
• A prioritised programme of walking and cycling infrastructure improvements for investment in the short, medium and long term

We have used the following 5 concepts to identify interventions to improve cycling and walking networks:

• Walkable core. How active travel can make High Wycombe town centre a more attractive and thriving place
• Main radial routes and key links. How the existing road network could be used to provide direct cycling and walking routes
• Healthy neighbourhoods. Grouping local neighbourhood streets to form a local network encouraging cycling and walking
• Wider network and strategic routes. Enhancing walking and cycling connections with local areas
• A cohesive and connected network. Interventions to complete the proposed walking and cycling network and encourage behaviour change

For each concept, the LCWIP proposes a range of more specific interventions. These proposals are at concept or initial investigation stage. Further design work and consultation will be undertaken to develop each.

You can explore the proposed interventions on an interactive map of the High Wycombe LCWIP network.

By selecting an individual line or point measure on the map, you can see the type of infrastructure being proposed and how it relates to the concepts in the LCWIP (i.e. concept number 1a).

The High Wycombe Travel Survey, carried out in 2020, showed a local desire to improve cycling and walking networks:

• 63.8% of respondents would like to walk more in the future. They would be encouraged to walk more with:
  • better separation from traffic
  • safer road crossings
  • better quality footpaths and more footpaths
• 44.2% of respondents would like to cycle more in the future. They would be encouraged to cycle more with:
  • more cycle paths separate from traffic
  • more bicycle lanes
  • improved driver behaviour and awareness around cyclists
• 83% of respondents felt current cycling infrastructure was poor or very poor

The LCWIP proposals will help to tackle challenges such as congestion, climate change, housing growth, air pollution and growing physical inactivity.

We have engaged a range of local stakeholders to ensure local knowledge informed the proposed LCWIP network:

• High Wycombe Travel Survey. Understanding travel behaviours, perceptions and future aspirations of residents and visitors
• Reviewing local requests for improvements. Understanding where specific interventions are wanted
• Workshops to identify challenges and opportunities. Involving Council officers, local area councillors and local stakeholders. This included key employers, interest groups and partner organisations