New cycleway for Potters Bar

Cyclists in Potters Bar will soon be able to ride more safely from one end of town to the other with the construction of a new cycleway linking the High Street with Darkes Lane.

The new cycleway will run through Parkfield open space in the High Street and direct cyclists and walkers to Byng Drive as an alternative route to get to Darkes Lane as opposed to The Walk.

Councillor Jean Heywood, Environment Portfolio Holder, explained: "The cycleway was requested by local cyclists as a means of getting around Potters Bar more safely by avoiding the busy main roads and will also provide a useful connection to the train station and a safer route to Ladbrooke JMI School."

Half of the route through the park has already been completed and work is currently taking place to complete the second half of it.  This involves widening the existing footpath, which is beginning to crack, to three metres across.  The path will also be laid in a slightly meandering fashion and rumble strips installed to safeguard against cyclists gathering too much speed and there will be signs at each entrance to warn users that the path is for both cyclists and walkers.

One particular local group of people is more interested than most in the current construction work and that’s Welwyn Archaeological Society.  This is due to the fact that the site used to be home to a Roman tile kiln and they are eager to see if the excavation unearths any Roman artefacts.

Councillor Jean Heywood, Environment Portfolio Holder, added: "Once finished the new route will benefit all park users and perhaps encourage more people to ditch the car and get on a bike, especially for short journeys across town."

The route is being implemented as part of the council’s Watling Chase Greenways Project and is being funded by Section 106 contributions and other funds.  Section 106 money is paid by local developers to improve local infrastructure and amenities.

Whilst construction takes place in Parkfield, the path from the Byng Drive entrance to the Holly Walk will be closed but alternative routes are available. 

Work should be completed and the route open by mid-February, depending on weather.