Travel links to Leighton Buzzard's new leisure centre a work in progress says council amid call for cycle route
A Leighton-Linslade cyclist is calling on Central Bedfordshire Council (CBC) to create a continuous cycle route to the new leisure centre.
Chris Stevenson, from BuzzCycles Sustainable Transport Campaign Group, says the existing stretch is currently "unfinished".
He argued that this needs to be addressed in order to promote environmentally friendly methods of travel – especially for families with young children.
But councillor Steve Watkins, executive member for assets, building and housing, said that some planned walking and cycling infrastructure is "still to be delivered".
Chris claimed: "The cycle lane from the leisure centre stops near Vandyke Upper School and from there you have to cycle on the roads to get to the town centre – and you can't ride from Vandyke Road to Briggington Way without going on a main road.
"You could use Clipstone Brook cycle track- but it's not the easiest option.
"You are not going to get anybody who is inexperienced or younger riding to the leisure centre from town - it's not ideal on a 30mph road. The upshot is they won't bother and will use their car."
Chris claims that the cycle lane from the leisure centre comes to a stop and "just dumps you" on Vandyke Road.
And he feels that the whole junction needs remodelling as it "sits on a bend with a 30mph limit".
He added: "The new leisure centre is fantastic – but cyclists need to get there in a safe and sustainable way.
"I was told by a CBC officer a couple of years ago that 'we're going to wait until the leisure centre opens to see what the demand for walkers and cyclists is'. But that doesn't seem right – if cyclists can't there easily, they won't come!"
Executive member for assets, building and housing, councillor Steve Watkins, said: “We are thrilled at the public response to our brand new Leighton Buzzard Leisure Centre that opened at the weekend.
"We would encourage residents to go and have a look around. It is a terrific leisure centre with a fantastic timetable of activities.
"The leisure centre forms part of a wider development where some planned walking and cycling infrastructure is still to be delivered.
"These measures will help strengthen active travel links to the leisure centre and surrounding areas as the wider development progresses."