Today Dr John Wilkins, Head of Harwell International Business Centre (HIBC), and Richard Farrell, Oxfordshire County Councillor opened a 2 mile cycle path on the Icknield Way, an important link in the 12 mile Wantage to Didcot cycle route via HIBC.
HIBC and Oxfordshire County Council, as part of their commitment to sustainable modes of transport, have jointly funded the £60,000 resurfacing of Icknield Way and construction of a ramp at Upton which now permits cycle access to the Didcot – Upton railway path. Harwell Bicycle Users Group (HarBUG) has also provided financial support for the work which was project managed by Sustrans, the sustainable transport charity.
The new Upton Ramp and Icknield Way resurfacing are important steps towards creating a predominantly off road route from Didcot to Wantage via the Harwell campus.
In a recent travel survey of staff working at the HIBC campus, conducted by independent travel consultants WS Atkins, 5% of respondents indicated they cycled to work, a favourable statistic when compared to the current national average of 3%. The work on cycleways is part of the Business Centre’s commitment to sustainable transport which also supports public bus services and car-sharing.
Dr John Wilkins, commented; “We want to encourage more people to bike to work by making it as safe and convenient as possible. The new Upton Ramp and Icknield Way resurfacing opens up a predominantly off road route from Didcot to Wantage via the Harwell campus.”
Richard Farrell, Oxfordshire County Councillor commented; “Overall the County has above average use for cycles. We are committed to developing a cycle network that provides convenient access to key destinations, including key employment centres like HIBC. Our objective is to develop a safe and efficient infrastructure for cycle travel to improve links between towns and surrounding settlements.”
Sarah James, who works at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory and regularly cycles to work, said; “The resurfacing of Icknield Way will make a big difference. I now have a cycle route that I can rely whatever the weather. Before, if the weather was bad I struggled to bike to work and I often arrived covered in mud.”
Marcus Jones of cycling group HarBUG added: “We are delighted with the progress that has been made in improving cycle access to Harwell. This will benefit both our employees and the wider community.”
Icknield Way is one of four prehistoric Royal Roads of England and has had special status for a thousand years. It starts at Avebury and ends at Norwich, a distance of 140 miles and linked the Iron Age territory of the Iceni with the Southwest of England. Locally it passes through Wantage, Wallingford, Watlington and Princes Risborough.
ENDS
Penny Fulford or Richard Chapman, GCI London – 020 7072 4000