Berlins Today
A cycling charity has warned part of a cycle route could be removed from the National Cycle Network if plans to expand a recycling site lead to more lorries using the road. North West Recycling wants to increase waste-processing capacity at its site near Rockliffe, north of Carlisle, in Cumbria. Walk Wheel Cycle Trust said an increase in heavy goods vehicles on National Cycle Route 7 between Cargo and Rockcliffe was expected, prompting safety concerns, and called for improvements to protect cyclists.
North West Recycling said it supported lower speed limits and traffic-calming measures and was willing to discuss extending a cycle path. Rockcliffe Parish Council chairman Geoff Moss said: "There is a link between Cargo and Rockcliffe where there are quite a few bad bends and there's no street lighting or white lines. "In 2017 it was measured in excess of 7,000 vehicles a day and it's only got worse - it's busy for cyclists at the best of times." The company's original application proposed increasing the amount of waste it could handle from about 150,000 tonnes annually to 600,000 tonnes, in two phases.
The number of additional lorry journeys has not been confirmed. In its response to a consultation on the plans, the cycle trust said the road was currently considered suitable for cyclists because of a low volume of traffic. An increase in lorries could result in the section being removed from the National Cycle Network unless safety improvements were made, it said.
The charity subsequently suggested a separate cycle path, a 30mph speed limit, warning signs and road markings. Geoff Moss, chair of Rockcliffe Parish Council, said he feared more lorries would make the road dangerous. He also questioned whether existing speed restrictions were sufficient, saying he had seen lorries accelerate where the speed limit increased.
North West Recycling said it recognised residents' concerns about HGV traffic. It also said it had told the council it would support reduced speed limits and traffic-calming measures. Any increase in capacity would be phased and compliance standards would be met at each stage, it said.
The Environment Agency said it was minded to approve the permit changes, but had not made a final decision. Follow BBC Cumbria on X , external , Facebook , external , Nextdoor and Instagram , external and listen to Radio Cumbria on BBC Sounds.
Source: BBC
