Reassurance given after concern over Greenway surface
THE new surface on Stratford’s Greenway is a hazard to cyclists, it was claimed this week, causing punctures and increasing stopping distances.
While many were relieved to see Warwickshire County Council replace the pot-holed path with a new surface last month, some cyclists believe the top layer is a concern.
John Carnie, who lives close to the Greenway, told the Herald: “I’ve always enjoyed cycling and at 73 I like to cycle to keep fit.
“These days I have an electric bike and I’ve ridden this route for many years but I’ve now found the new surface a problem.
“The chippings used [in the top layer] are very coarse with sharp edges and because the surface is not compact, tyres sink into the chippings and cause punctures – I had one this week which ripped a centimetre tear in my sidewall. The tyre in question had only done 85 miles since I purchased the bike a month ago, so both the tyre and tube are almost brand new.”
John said the repair cost will be somewhere between £40 and £55, but he’s also concerned for others using the Greenway.
“I don’t think the surface is fit for purpose,” he added. “I’m worried a child will fall off their bike and hurt themselves. I’ve heard some dog owners don’t want to use the area because they’re worried about their pet hurting its paws.”
John’s not alone with his concerns. On social media Robert Gullen said: “As a cyclist I'm not happy with the loose gravel that affects bikes with narrower tyres, or children’s bikes. I rode the length of the resurfaced section a few days after it was finished and found that heavy rain had already washed away patches of gravel at the Milcote end and there were areas of deep, loose gravel in quite a few spots.”
Tommy Velo added: “I think the new surface is much worse than it was before. I'm very unhappy they spent our council tax on this to make it far worse.”
Emma Mackay said she had issues with pushing a pram on the path: “Some parts were quite deep to get the pram through and my poor baby was getting bounced about like crazy. The vibrations were awful.”
But not all agree. Fernando Ortelli said: “I cycled it and found it brilliant. It was full of people cycling (even young kids), runners, walkers and all seemed to be enjoying it.”
Dave Hibbert said: ”We have been on it several times with our two dogs and have had no problems at all.”
The county council, in response to questions from the Herald, said the same type of surface has been successfully used at Ryton Pools Country Park and Kingsbury Water Park.
A spokesperson added: “The way this type of surface works is that the top layer of chippings beds in and migrates over time, creating a smoother finish.
“The surface was chosen as the only cost-effective solution that adequately meets the needs of the range of visitors who enjoy our Greenway, including walkers, joggers, cyclists and horse riders.
“Parts of the Stratford Greenway sit lower than the surrounding fields, meaning some water pooling may occur in wetter weather. Care should be taken when visiting in these conditions, but we would not expect access to be restricted.”
They added: “While we appreciate some visitors have found the higher levels of resistance of the new surface at present to be a challenge, we have also had lots of positive feedback about the look and feel of the surface. As the surface beds in, it will become more consistent with less friction for cyclists. However, we would reiterate that we encourage responsible, family-friendly cycling to ensure all visitors have a safe and pleasant experience.”
One problem area has been identified just before Stannells Bridge but this will be fixed imminently, the council said.
