Useful Information & Links Section
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Cumbria Cycle Co-
Meeting held on 25/10/06
CCC Offices Kendal
Present:
Allan McNicoll (Chair) Cumbria CC
Alex McCoskrie Cumbria Tourism
Robin Martakies Windermere Lake Cruises
Richard Greene Cumbria Tourism
Paul Lee Stagecoach
Barney Hill Lake District National Park Authority
Jason Dixey Cumbria CC
Chris Stevens Cleary Stevens Consulting/Gill Cycles
Judith Moore Friends of the Lake District
Tori Dodd Tourism and Conservation Partnership
David Bannerman Amey Mouchel
(Rep Highways Agency)
Jo Ratcliffe Environment Agency
Simon Wilson North Pennines AONB Partnership
Steve Taylor Capita Symonds
Lorayne Woodend South Lakeland DC
Simeon Orme Rough Stuff Fellowship
Mark Sandamass Pennine Events
Ted Liddle I M B A
Rupert Douglas Coopeer Douglas & Sustrans
Mark Allum Yorkshire Dales National Park
Carol Robertson Copeland BC
Fiona McLeod West Lakes District Tourism Ptnr.
Phil Webster Duddon YHA
Nick Cotton Cycle Consultant
Carole Nelson Sedbergh Book Town Limited
Apologies:
Richard Greenwood
Andrew Miles
Simon Young
Jonathan Smith
John Reynolds
Chris Ford
Shane Harris
Graeme Wheelhouse
Helen Haskayne
Jim Loxham
John Colhoun
Deborah Hall
Guy Fitzgerald
Alistair McNeill
Haydn Morris
Introductions
Everyone introduced themselves
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Matters Arising
4) Meeting with train operating companies (AMcN)
Meetings have now been held with the 3 main Train Operating Companies (TOCs) in Cumbria ; Virgin Trains (VT), Northern Trains (NT)and Transpennine Express (TE) .
· No significant changes planned to cycle carriage capacity; for next few years existing
rolling stock in use though new TE trains to Barrow & Windermere start December ’06
(carry 2 bikes).Changes to present VT cross-
· The TOC’s recognise the need to improve their websites if possible with on-
· The TOC’s welcomed promotional ideas eg Tyne Valley Line and Hadrians Cycleway Way ,use of Settle & Carlisle in connection with Cycling Festival, leaflets based around day rides from TE stations, better information and signing at stations.
· NT draft cycling strategy to be circulated to group
Concerns were raised over services on Windermere line following changes to Cross-
There was potential for Cumbria with direct rail services to tap into the number of cyclists arriving at Manchester Airport from USA/Canada : high spenders.
5) Cycling Festival (AMcCo)
The Cumbria Cycling Festival is to be held on the week 7th – 13th May, County wide and specifically on 11th to 13th at Lowther, near Penrith.
‘Detailed Events’ have been appointed by Cumbria Tourism and they are engaging with local cycle businesses.
The programme for the festival to be completed by Xmas ’06 so please let AMcC have any ideas etc asap.
If possible new publications should be aimed to be done by May so they can be publicised at Festival.
AMcC asked if consumer databases could be given to him
Unfortunately the Fred Whitton falls a week apart from the proposed festival.Reference was made to CTC birthday rides and the Craven Bike Festival on 20th May .
There was a need to consider how to get people to the site (both cyclists and non-
6a) Cumbria Cycle Map (RG)
1100 copies of the map have been sent out to Hill’s, a significant number of maps still with Cumbria Tourism.good time for review, going to inform how many sold.
It was suggested that there maybe merit in making it available in bike shops.
It was also suggested that other distributors could offer a better service ie Witby of Kendal
There was need to evaluate its success and feed this into a future review.The idea of asking people to feedback was raised and that this could be incorporated on website.
Action Pt : AMcN,AMcC & BH to incorporate feedback section on CCC ,Lake District Outdoors and LDNPA websites.
6b) Other Publications/Branding (NC/RD)
A number of new cycle map/leaflets are coming out –
· Sedbergh,Dentdal & Lune Valley (circulated)
· Arnside & Silverdale AONB (draft circulated)
· Solway Coast AONB
· Wheels to Wild (North Pennines AONB)
Discussions are underway for maps for West Cumbria.
There is need for central co– ordination and where possible a general agreement on pricing.
There has been attempt in the new local publications to take forward the branding of the Cumbria Cycle Map.
A McC highlighted that One North East for Northumberland had funded a 70 page free booklet, and that NWDA need to be approached to get a similar sort of thing for Cumbria.
Action Pt : AMcN & AMcCo to discuss how to take this forward.
Regarding branding RD noted if agreement can be reached then it can be used across the county, and draft text/visuals for branding were circulated for comment
7) Cumbria Cycle Website (AMcCo)
Website funding secured for first year and hopefully two years thereafter
Tender documents have just been sent out to consultants re. development and future management of website.
AMcC is keen to get full engagement on the website which should be in basic format by Xmas with people able to log on.
8 a) Cycle Co-
Richard Greenwood of Cumbria Tourism has been exploring external funding opportunities to support the post and is meeting with the Council in November.
The need for a dedicated Cycling Officer was highlighted and reference was made to two officers employed by Sustrans in Northumberland.
The Council acknowledges the usefulness of a Cycling Officer though under the present financial difficulties faced its justification would prove difficult.However scope for funding it externally will be explored.
8 b) Future Role of Cycle Co-
The future role of the group was considered as part of the review of the Cycling
Development Action plan carried out by Jo Cleary on behalf of Cycling England with
a suggestion that it be subsumed into one County-
However the Council considered that the work of the group has been very useful in
taking forward issues relating to cycle tourism and recreational cycling and continues
in its present format with a sub group of interested individuals be formalised to
meet more often to take matters forward in a co-
It was agreed that the group had been very beneficial in taking issues forward and sharing information and its proposed continuation in its present format was endorsed.
9. AOB
DB provided list of Highway Agency schemes recently completed and planned (attached )and please send him any comments
TL noted that he was now representing Imba which provided support and advice on mountain biking issues.
JD gave an up-
· Flimby(Hadrians Cycleway) : awaiting confirmation of funding ;if successful route implemented by April ‘07
· Workington (C2C) : 1km section from the Coastguard Building complete ; planning application submitted for link through Workington Hall from Stainburn.
· Skelwith Bridge (Ambleside to Barrow ) proposal ongoing with bridge to be installed and improvements to Elterwater.
and opportunities learnt from partnership working during trip to Holland. Some concern was raised over the success of European partnership funding.
Date of next meeting
April 2007 in Kendal (date to be circulated)