Stevenage Borough Council Elections 2026

Cycling UK Stevenage have sent the following questions to the agents of all candidates standing in the Stevenage Borough Council elections on Thursday 7th May. 

The questions were developed with input from our Residents’ Panel. We held a dedicated session in March to discuss topics ahead of this year’s elections, and residents were also able to submit questions via an online survey. We received 18 suggestions which were summarised into key themes to form these 6 questions.

Responses will be published here on Thursday 30th April.

Question 1 - Maintenance of cycleways - Responses

Surface maintenance is consistently cited as the top barrier to cycling by our residents’ panel, causing discomfort and accessibility issues for many, including pregnant women and those with health conditions. While Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) maintains most routes, Stevenage Borough Council (SBC) is responsible for the north-south paths in Fairlands Valley Park. 

Will you publicly support our campaign calling on both HCC and SBC to improve the maintenance of their respective cycle paths?

Question 2 - Cleaning of cycleways - Responses

Currently, broken glass in Stevenage is only cleared during scheduled maintenance four times a year, leading to frequent punctures for cyclists. Resident panel members mention they frequently have punctures, up to 5 times per year in their household. Similarly, delayed leaf clearance creates hazardous conditions on cycleways throughout the autumn. Conversely, when residents report broken glass on the streets in Cambridge, the response aim is 2 hours. 

Will you commit to working with SBC to improve response times for clearing broken glass and to ensure timely leaf removal in autumn?

Question 3 - Cycling infrastructure investment - Responses

The ongoing regeneration of the town centre will increase the local population and the need for safe travel routes to and from local shops and homes. It also brings funding opportunities from developers. The residents’ panel notes that people struggle to navigate the town centre conveniently while cycling and therefore are less able to contribute to its local economy. 

Do you support investment into safe cycling routes in and to the town centre using developer funds?

Question 4 - Listen and act on residents' concerns and suggestions -  Responses

Residents often feel their suggestions regarding local developments are ignored or not taken seriously. 

Will you commit to working with us to improve cycling infrastructure by genuinely listening to residents’ lived experiences and acting on the feedback shared through our residents’ panel?

Question 5 - Promoting cycling - Responses

Cycling UK Stevenage recently contributed to the Stevenage Cycling Strategy Review, led by the Environment & Economy Select Committee. The Committee raised concerns that SBC lacks a systematic monitoring and evaluation programme, meaning we do not know how cycling numbers have changed over the years. To address this, we suggested investigating ways to establish baseline data by installing cycle counters in town. Our residents’ panel notes that where the council engages with cycling, there is a lack of positive engagement; the Council frequently highlights where you cannot cycle, but does not do enough to actively encourage and promote it. 

What specific actions will you take to encourage more people to cycle in Stevenage, and how will you monitor success?

Question 6 - Cycle parking - Responses

Requests for residential cycle hangars are often declined due to a perceived “lack of demand”, as the current system places the burden on individual applicants to find neighbours willing to share. There are only six hangars in Stevenage, with no budget reserved for more, meaning cycling is being suppressed by a lack of secure parking. 

Will you commit to making the cycle hangar request process easier for residents in your ward, potentially by utilising your Councillor budget?

A list of candidates standing in each ward can be found on the Stevenage Borough Council Website here.

• Here is the letter that was sent to agents: SBC election questions
• Find out more about questions we have asked candidates at previous elections here.