Progress report for the Great Dunmow Flitch Way Link
Dr Stuart Withington, Chair Flitch Way Action Group, Presentation at AGM 19 February 2024
A very warm welcome to all our guests, thank you for taking the time to attend. I would like to thank all members of the group, old and new for all their hard work over the past year trying to drive this project forward.
This past year has been made especially challenging partly due to staff changes and the local elections in May.
Louise Pepper stood down as district councillor responsible for Environment and Climate Change to be replaced by Cllr Neil Reeve. The UDC officers for climate and environment that we had been dealing with have both moved on. Ben Kennedy to better things and Chloe Fiddy has now become a UDC councillor. As far as I can tell they have both been replaced by Victoria Reed.
Change has also been occurring at county level, Cllr Lee Scott has moved from Highways, Infrastructure and Sustainable Travel to be replaced by Cllr Tom Cunningham. As far as I am aware we have not yet had any contact with Cllr Cunningham but I believe he is also a local parish councillor in Great Notley.
Central government has also caused problems. In March 2023 the DfT announced a £233m reduction in dedicated funding for active travel. This has resulted in the Public Accounts Committee reporting in November 2023 that “DfT’s efforts to increase active travel have seen disappointingly slow progress. Objectives include a doubling of cycling rates, and a 6% increase in the proportion of children walking to school. There has been no sustained increase in cycling rates, and fewer children now walk to school than when targets were set”.
We are still awaiting the production of the Uttlesford LCWIP, I suspect this may have been delayed due to efforts to produce a new Local Plan. This plan has been out for consultation and does contain many glowing references to The Flitch Way. The local plan does mention the study produced by Transport Initiative to assess route options and suitability to connect BS, Stansted, Dunmow via the FW. This study is now available in draft form.
In the summer a group of us met in Bishops Stortford to again walk and check our preferred route to connect to the Flitch Way. We were joined by Sarah Potter who is a ProW and records analyst with ECC. Coincidentally we met Cllr Eric Buckmaster, Chair of HCC’s Environment Cabinet Panel. We were able to explain our plans and he seemed quite supportive.
Our preferred route would involve upgrading an existing track around the edge of a field that is part of Harps Farm. As a result, a meeting was arranged between three members and one of the owners of the farm Mr Tom Streeter. At the end of discussions Tom Streeter said that a watertight agreement was required as it would not be possible to retract later. He ended the discussion saying he was willing to enter into a dialogue with interested parties. Hopefully this conversation has opened the door that will enable the PRoW teams from HCC and ECC to start active negotiations.
As for the route to Stansted I think that the airport should be more involved especially if they are to reach their own active travel target.
Plans to re-route the Flitch Way through the new Uttlesford District Council waste depot are grinding on. Sandra Reynolds and Tom Hamilton (park ranger) recently had a meeting with Cllr Geoff Bagnall from UDC. After clearing some scrub land a safe route to cross the road and go through the site was identified.
The plans for the move of Helena Romanes School to the Buttleys lane site are hopefully going ahead with some work on site due to start this spring. This should give added impetus to complete the Flitch Way between the Brambles estate and Buttleys lane.
The s106 agreements are in place for both the Staggs farm and Smiths farm developments. Once completed these two developments will provide the missing links in the Flitch Way.
The development at Moors Field is proceeding and should provide £206,720.00 index linked funding for the Flitch Way. This is to provide a new bridleway bridge over the river Chelmer as well as appropriate surfacing, drainage, signage and information boards. The money is payable to Essex Highways prior to the first occupation of any residential dwelling.
In summary, despite some pretty strong political and financial headwinds the group has been working well and making some good progress towards our final goal of creating a safe, off-road route connecting Bishops Stortford, Stansted, Dunmow and Braintree.
This past year has been made especially challenging partly due to staff changes and the local elections in May.
Louise Pepper stood down as district councillor responsible for Environment and Climate Change to be replaced by Cllr Neil Reeve. The UDC officers for climate and environment that we had been dealing with have both moved on. Ben Kennedy to better things and Chloe Fiddy has now become a UDC councillor. As far as I can tell they have both been replaced by Victoria Reed.
Change has also been occurring at county level, Cllr Lee Scott has moved from Highways, Infrastructure and Sustainable Travel to be replaced by Cllr Tom Cunningham. As far as I am aware we have not yet had any contact with Cllr Cunningham but I believe he is also a local parish councillor in Great Notley.
Central government has also caused problems. In March 2023 the DfT announced a £233m reduction in dedicated funding for active travel. This has resulted in the Public Accounts Committee reporting in November 2023 that “DfT’s efforts to increase active travel have seen disappointingly slow progress. Objectives include a doubling of cycling rates, and a 6% increase in the proportion of children walking to school. There has been no sustained increase in cycling rates, and fewer children now walk to school than when targets were set”.
We are still awaiting the production of the Uttlesford LCWIP, I suspect this may have been delayed due to efforts to produce a new Local Plan. This plan has been out for consultation and does contain many glowing references to The Flitch Way. The local plan does mention the study produced by Transport Initiative to assess route options and suitability to connect BS, Stansted, Dunmow via the FW. This study is now available in draft form.
In the summer a group of us met in Bishops Stortford to again walk and check our preferred route to connect to the Flitch Way. We were joined by Sarah Potter who is a ProW and records analyst with ECC. Coincidentally we met Cllr Eric Buckmaster, Chair of HCC’s Environment Cabinet Panel. We were able to explain our plans and he seemed quite supportive.
Our preferred route would involve upgrading an existing track around the edge of a field that is part of Harps Farm. As a result, a meeting was arranged between three members and one of the owners of the farm Mr Tom Streeter. At the end of discussions Tom Streeter said that a watertight agreement was required as it would not be possible to retract later. He ended the discussion saying he was willing to enter into a dialogue with interested parties. Hopefully this conversation has opened the door that will enable the PRoW teams from HCC and ECC to start active negotiations.
As for the route to Stansted I think that the airport should be more involved especially if they are to reach their own active travel target.
Plans to re-route the Flitch Way through the new Uttlesford District Council waste depot are grinding on. Sandra Reynolds and Tom Hamilton (park ranger) recently had a meeting with Cllr Geoff Bagnall from UDC. After clearing some scrub land a safe route to cross the road and go through the site was identified.
The plans for the move of Helena Romanes School to the Buttleys lane site are hopefully going ahead with some work on site due to start this spring. This should give added impetus to complete the Flitch Way between the Brambles estate and Buttleys lane.
The s106 agreements are in place for both the Staggs farm and Smiths farm developments. Once completed these two developments will provide the missing links in the Flitch Way.
The development at Moors Field is proceeding and should provide £206,720.00 index linked funding for the Flitch Way. This is to provide a new bridleway bridge over the river Chelmer as well as appropriate surfacing, drainage, signage and information boards. The money is payable to Essex Highways prior to the first occupation of any residential dwelling.
In summary, despite some pretty strong political and financial headwinds the group has been working well and making some good progress towards our final goal of creating a safe, off-road route connecting Bishops Stortford, Stansted, Dunmow and Braintree.
Flitch Way Link maps
Click on the maps to download
Status Report updated February 2023
Bishops Stortford to Flitch Way at Start Hill
Uttlesford District Council via Cllr Louise Pepper have funded a route options study to determine the optimal way to link Bishop’s Stortford to the Flitch Way and on to the station and airport at Stansted.
Uttlesford District Council via Cllr Louise Pepper have funded a route options study to determine the optimal way to link Bishop’s Stortford to the Flitch Way and on to the station and airport at Stansted.
Butleys Lane to Ongar Road (The Brambles development)
In December 2021, it was agreed via planning approval that this section of the route is to be provided by the developers of Staggs Farm and will form an important route to the proposed new development of Helena Romanes School. The s106 funding to secure this route has been agreed but the start date for the development has yet to be decided.
In December 2021, it was agreed via planning approval that this section of the route is to be provided by the developers of Staggs Farm and will form an important route to the proposed new development of Helena Romanes School. The s106 funding to secure this route has been agreed but the start date for the development has yet to be decided.
Ongar Road North Development (“The Brambles”)
The bridleway through the Brambles development opened in 2020. We have been impressed with Redrow’s commitment to the construction of this well-made track. They also upgraded the footpath section up to the bridge over the B1256 to New Street. We are grateful to the developers for fulfilling their obligations. |
Ongar Road Crossing
A pedestrian crossing is to be provided by the developers of the Oaklands estate. At present the proposed crossing is poorly sited. It would make sense to move and upgrade it so that everyone wishing to cross the Ongar Road can use it. At the very least this crossing will slow traffic and make Ongar Road safer for pedestrians, riders and cyclists and we understand that Essex Highways are working on this. |
Smiths Farm Development
Work on the Smith’s Farm development stalled several years ago and is still awaiting a ruling from the European Courts. The Bridleway connection from Maynard Park estate is still in the plans but there are no dates yet for the continuation of this development.
Chelmsford Road Crossing
This crossing on the Flitch Way has been highlighted as dangerous on many occasions and indeed a recent accident has reinforced this view. A new crossing is part of the Smith’s Farm development, but this has been in planning on for over ten years. As a result, a temporary solution of a pedestrian refuge has been put forward and is currently awaiting a decision from the Local Highways Panel.
Work on the Smith’s Farm development stalled several years ago and is still awaiting a ruling from the European Courts. The Bridleway connection from Maynard Park estate is still in the plans but there are no dates yet for the continuation of this development.
Chelmsford Road Crossing
This crossing on the Flitch Way has been highlighted as dangerous on many occasions and indeed a recent accident has reinforced this view. A new crossing is part of the Smith’s Farm development, but this has been in planning on for over ten years. As a result, a temporary solution of a pedestrian refuge has been put forward and is currently awaiting a decision from the Local Highways Panel.
Byway 57 was closed for several months at the start of 2020 for ECC to implement welcome improvements to the surface and drainage and we participated in a scheme initiated by responsible off-roaders to place gabions next to the byway to deter rogue drivers trespassing on neighbouring land and damaging the river banks.
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It has been another exciting and productive year for the group. I would like to formally welcome Stephen Skinner from the East Herts cyclists and Cllr Louise Pepper from Uttlesford District Council to the group, I am sure they will both prove to be valuable assets.
Next Steps
Continue to forge good and collaborative relationships with Hertfordshire County Council, Uttlesford District Council, Stansted Airport and Essex Highways.
Try and make the Flitch Way a top priority project for Great Dunmow Town Council in order to ensure that S106 money will be available for the project. As all councils have declared a climate and environmental emergency, active travel has been pushed to the fore and we should hope to capitalise on this welcome change in priorities.
Next Steps
Continue to forge good and collaborative relationships with Hertfordshire County Council, Uttlesford District Council, Stansted Airport and Essex Highways.
Try and make the Flitch Way a top priority project for Great Dunmow Town Council in order to ensure that S106 money will be available for the project. As all councils have declared a climate and environmental emergency, active travel has been pushed to the fore and we should hope to capitalise on this welcome change in priorities.
Authorities helping achieving our vision
In order to achieve our vision of connecting the Flitch Way with a definitive bridleway we have established a good working relationship with the planning authority Uttlesford District Council, planning process on applications affecting our route.
Essex Highways are supportive and have adopted the connection project. At our first meeting with Garry White (Manager of the Public Right of Way team) on the 15th Jan 2010 he reported that the project has scored highly on the Essex County Council works list as a most important strategic creation project and he entitled the project the Great Dunmow Flitch Way Link.
We verified the route by exploring each phase on foot. Since then planning applications for housing developments around Great Dunmow have had potential to impact on the viability of the project.
Although all planning and design considerations are negotiated by Uttlesford District Council Planning Authority and Essex Highways, we recognise that we need a positive relationship with the housing developers, to communicate to them the needs and aspirations of the project and to gain their good will in the provision of requirements. In this we have been successful.
The housing developers recognise that connection with our project is beneficial to the facilities provided for their developments by providing access to the Flitch Way and for cycling and walking to places of education, employment, leisure, shopping etc.
Essex Highways are supportive and have adopted the connection project. At our first meeting with Garry White (Manager of the Public Right of Way team) on the 15th Jan 2010 he reported that the project has scored highly on the Essex County Council works list as a most important strategic creation project and he entitled the project the Great Dunmow Flitch Way Link.
We verified the route by exploring each phase on foot. Since then planning applications for housing developments around Great Dunmow have had potential to impact on the viability of the project.
Although all planning and design considerations are negotiated by Uttlesford District Council Planning Authority and Essex Highways, we recognise that we need a positive relationship with the housing developers, to communicate to them the needs and aspirations of the project and to gain their good will in the provision of requirements. In this we have been successful.
The housing developers recognise that connection with our project is beneficial to the facilities provided for their developments by providing access to the Flitch Way and for cycling and walking to places of education, employment, leisure, shopping etc.
Support from key stakeholders
We also have the support of the following organisations - Sustrans, Cycling UK (formerly the C.T.C.), The Ramblers Association, British Horse Society and most prominently Essex Bridleways Association. The Essex Country Parks Flitch Way rangers and the Friends of the Flitch Way support the project and see the securing of this viable and safe bridleway link as a significant and worthwhile goal.