Hertsmere Borough Council

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Greenways Scheme

Greenways are a network of largely car-free off-road routes connecting people to facilities and open spaces in and around towns, cities and to the countryside.

They are for shared use by people of all abilities on foot, bike or horseback, for commuting or leisure. The national concept is to make Greenways the way to go, so that every town and city has a network. These routes are intended to encourage walking and cycling, be safe, high quality routes that cater for all needs linking schools, work and leisure, as well as offering a sustainable transport alternative.

The Council runs one of the national demonstration projects, Watling Chase Greenways, to develop a network of Greenways around the borough.

Why Hertsmere?

The Borough of Hertsmere lies entirely within the boundary of Watling Chase Community Forest. It is situated on the urban fringe of North London and links between its four settlements for non-motorised transport is almost non-existent. A network of Greenways linking the towns and people to work, the countryside and leisure pursuits would be very beneficial. The development of a Greenways network will form an integral part of the Community Forest helping to ensure sustainable access and hence the name chosen is "Watling Chase Greenways".

The Partnership Approach

Greenways are being promoted and funded nationally by the Countryside Agency. Within the Watling Chase area a broad partnership is being developed consisting of a variety of organisations and individuals with an interest in all aspects of the Greenways initiative. This expanding partnership will ensure that the key stakeholders are able to influence the development of the Watling Chase Greenways. From this initial partnership a Steering Group will be formed to develop the project.

The Community Approach

Local people and organisations have through the Local agenda 21 process identified the development of a Greenways network as an important local initiative. The Local Agenda 21 process known locally as A.C.T. can call upon individuals and organisations who are willing and committed to help develop a community led Greenways network in Hertsmere.

A National Demonstration Project

The Watling Chase Greenways will be a national demonstration project. It will be part of a three year project to develop a Greenways network in Hertsmere, which will be partially funded by the Countryside Agency and Hertsmere Borough Council. A partnership approach is essential to ensure that funds can be secured in the longer term to further expand and manage Greenways. As one of six national demonstration projects the initiative will tackle strategic issues such as getting links where people need them, providing for shared use, sourcing funding. The status of being a national demonstration project will ensure that we have access to examples of good practice, knowledge and expertise developed nationally.

To ensure that new Greenways develop high standards, a Greenways accreditation standard will be developed, that will give users a guarantee of safety, accessibility and environmental quality.

Because...

There are a number of features about Hertsmere Borough which have ensured that it has been chosen as a national demonstration project.

The first steps

  1. The process was launched in January 1999 from which a community based Steering Group was established. The Steering Group has representatives from user groups, individuals and local organisations and the Borough and County Council.
  2. A 'Swot' Analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) was carried out by National Consultants of the Watling Chase Greenways Project, ajt. The assessment identified that:" An exciting opportunity exists to build upon the strengths of the Demonstration Area and create a strategic network of Greenways serving local needs that continues to be a model of good practice."
  3. A demand assessment was conducted by Scott Wilson Consultants, which was a study to provide the hard facts as to the scale and nature of demand for Greenways from within the local community. The main demand is for leisure activities, with a weaker demand for commuting to work and school. It is estimated that there are 5 million walking trips and about 1 million cycling trips are made annually in the Borough. These figures illustrated the enormous potential for creating a good high quality network.

Where are we today?

  1. The partners together with the members of the steering group are currently working on:
    • developing a strategy for Greenways
    • reviewing the whole Greenways process
  2. The first Greenway in the area…. Allum Lane Spinney, linking Allum Lane in Borehamwood with Parkfield Open Space, has now been completed and is open to the general public. The track is the start of the proposed Watling Chase Timberland Trail, a 16.9km route (predominantly for walkers) that will run right through Watling Chase Community Forest. It will connect the London Outer Orbital Path (LOOP) in the south with Alban Way (part of SUSTRANS national route 6) in the north.
  3. A second Greenway being worked on is a much-needed multi-user route beside Swanland Road, near South Mymms Service Station on the A1(M). It then will proceed northwards out of Hertsmere's Borough towards Hatfield. Money from the Greenways Project has supplemented European funding to enable provision for horses as well as cyclists and walkers.

The way forward

Hertsmere in conjunction with the Steering Group will prepare a non-motorised transport strategy. This Strategy will provide a 10 year vision and identify in detail an Action Plan, which will help to develop a network of Greenways throughout the Borough and in Watling Chase Community Forest.

The Strategy will be an important document, which will encompass the vision that the Greenways pilot has been working towards. It will detail the process to date and provide the necessary policy background to which Greenways relates locally, regionally and nationally. It will also translate the findings of the Demand Study into where routes would be used and where perhaps it may be desirable to have a route but there is not sufficient justification. The Strategy will also provide supplementary planning guidance for policies that relate to Greenways in the Hertsmere District Plan (the development plan for the area). It will also provide the information required to supplement any bidding proposals to funding agencies such as the Lottery etc.

Once the pilots are concluded then this Strategy should hopefully provide the direction for the Watling Chase Greenways vision to continue.

We recognise that it will take many years to see a comprehensive Greenways network established but it is hoped that commitment from the Council and the Community will allow the vision to be achieved.

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