2024 Question 4 - Responses
In the 1950s, Stevenage was the New Town built for active travel but punctures are a big deterrent to beginner cyclists. What steps will you take to ensure that broken glass is removed more promptly from our 45km of cycleways?
Conservative
We would ensure cycleways are swept more regularly.
Green
We need to change the reporting system at the council. Currently reports of broken glass and other issues disappear from the interactive map very quickly, this does not help users of the cycleway system. It would be useful if the map showed reports and their resolution, certainly for a defined time after the council has resolved the problem. We would also work to ensure that the information about the maintenance of the cycleway system (and footpaths) is updated on the website to show what the schedule really is. (When a question about this was asked at a Council meeting over a year ago, the council stated that the information on the website is incorrect, but the website has not yet been updated by the council).
Labour
Like fly-tipping and anti social graffiti this is an absolute bugbear to those of us who are on our bikes for work, shopping or pleasure. We undertake to add this to our challenge to HCC on these other initiatives we have started this past year. We will continue to urge HCC to act promptly where glass on cycleways is reported.
Liberal Democrat
Stevenage has a fantastic cycle network and unlike other parties, Liberal Democrats will protect this heritage. We will work to ensure that the cycle routes are properly maintained and regularly cleaned of glass and other detritus through allocating adequate resources so that regular cycle way cleaning can be delivered at the promised 8 week intervals. The frequency of this should be increased in the autumn and winter months to tackle the problem of leaf debris in specific problem areas. We will ensure that steps will also be taken to increase the ease with which glass on the cycleway can be reported for urgent cleaning. This may include a reintroduction of the fixmystreet app or a web app to simplify the SBC reporting system. SBC staff such as street cleaning, refuse and grass cutting crews should be encouraged and given the tools to efficiently report issues they find.
Reform UK
Answer will be displayed here.
TUSC
The response received was a general statement addressing all 6 questions and can be viewed here.