Riverside path consultation
Thank you to everybody who took part in the Jubilee Terrace to Scarborough Bridge riverside path consultation and provided valuable feedback. The consultation is now closed.
We gathered feedback on what you would like improvements to the path to look like, and which concerns about the existing path you would like to be addressed. We wanted to understand the main concerns of local residents and path users to make informed decisions and will apply for additional funding where necessary.
The consultation made clear that while the council had set aside up to £600,000 to deliver improvements to the area, it may not be possible to deliver all improvements identified by users within that budget. It said that consultation responses would be used to help the council to explore available solutions and make informed decisions about what could be done within the budget, and to apply for additional funding where necessary.
Riverside path consultation feedback
We received a total of 444 responses, which will be factored into the designs and plans for this path.
Feedback from the survey showed:
- 96% of respondents support plans to improve the path, with 83% of respondents 'strongly' supporting
- 68.57% of respondents chose safety and security (such as CCTV) as an area for improvement
The top 3 user priorities identified through the consultation are:
- making space available for different types of users (83.6% of respondents chose this as a priority)
- lighting (82.1%)
- usability during flood events (78.2%)
In relation to the top priority, consultation shows that, of 2 main approaches to creating more space for different types of path users, users would prefer widening the existing route. 79.25% of respondents classed this as 'high' or 'highest' priority.
Further comments were received on topics including:
- path maintenance
- accessibility
- resting areas
- the need to protect existing trees and green spaces
Riverside path consultation next steps
The Executive Member noted the results of the consultation and early feasibility work at a Decision Session on 21 March and agreed to progress phase 1 of the path upgrade, while further work is undertaken on the feasibility of the full scheme. Phase 1 will see high-priority upgrades made irrespective of the outcome of funding bids, including lighting and CCTV improvements.
In May 2023, we successfully secured funding from Active Travel England to progress the scheme. The overall scope of the project will now be reviewed within the funding awarded.
Further investigation will also be made into areas of uncertainty, such as the flood compensation requirements and impact on trees of widening the path, to confirm costs and facilitate delivery of the further improvements.
The consultation feedback, outputs of our technical work and discussions with local stakeholders will help to develop the detailed design. The programme for delivery will be established when the further design work and funding position has been confirmed.
Riverside path consultation key dates
- start of consultation - 2 December 2022
- end of consultation - 8 January 2023
- review consultation feedback and develop designs - early 2023
- work to progress the design based on the funing available - May 2023
- planning application submission (subject to extent of works to be delivered) and update to local residents – to be confirmed
- anticipated decision on planning application (subject to extent of works to be delivered) and update to local residents - to be confirmed
- complete initial improvements to path - to be confirmed
- complete further improvements (subject to funding) – to be confirmed