Northcroft goes cycling - Vickers

4.38.25pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 21st Jun 2007

Local Access Forum members hear how the new RADAR access gates work

Northcroft Councillors Gwen Mason and Tony Vickers are this week urging their constituents to get on their bikes in pursuit of a cleaner and greener lifestyle. Councillor Vickers is leaving his car at home in support of National Bike Week, and taking the challenge of cycling everywhere.

"Northcroft has twice the regional average number of people working less than 2km from home and twice the District average of people cycling to work", explained Councillor Vickers. "Over a quarter of Northcroft households do not own a car. If all those working close to home cycled or walked to work we could make a difference to our health, road traffic and the environment."

For that reason, Tony and Gwen felt that new residents in their Ward would appreciate a copy of two new maps which the Council has produced with help from volunteers. The Newbury Walking Map is brand new and the Cycling Map is on its second edition since 2004.

"We are also trying to persuade Waitrose to do home deliveries" added Gwen. "Not the internet kind but simply enabling local shoppers not to have to carry heavy loads home! They promised to look into this when they got planning permission in 2003. They also promised to consider hire of cycle shopping trailers, which they do at other stores."

Councillor Tony Vickers was also present when members of the Mid and West Berks Local Access Forum inspected the new 'RADAR' gate on the Lambourn Valley Way at Moor Lane, Speen. Cllr Vickers successfully bid last year for £6,000 from the Council towards improving a footpath used regularly by his Northcroft Ward residents. The work was done earlier this year and is part of the first of several more accessible circular routes near towns in the District planned for coming years. Volunteers from West Berkshire Ramblers installed the gates.