Bury St Edmunds cyclists are hoping to lend their expertise to future consultations over safer cycling routes

‘Let’s get it right’: That is the plea from cyclists after ambitious plans to create safer cycling and walking routes in Bury St Edmunds hit the brakes.

The appeal comes after Suffolk County Council abruptly dropped its consultation into new proposals following criticism from residents that some of the ideas were ‘nonsense and unnecessary’.

Now, Libby Ranzetta, who co-founded award-winning Bury St Edmunds Rickshaw service and the pedal-powered EcocarriersBSE delivery service, has offered to work with Suffolk County Council to address the problem areas.

Suffolk county councillor David Nettleton, meanwhile, has drawn up alternative solutions and Moreton Hall Residents Association has appealed to planners to make sure residents are ‘meaningfully involved’ and ‘local knowledge is valued’ in any future discussions.

Libby, who last year founded the Bury St Edmunds Active Travel Forum lobby group, said: “We would be delighted to work with the council to draw up plans using our knowledge of the town. Our team of cyclists use the roads in and around the town every day.

“We would love to create something that works in harmony with motorists and that also means cyclists aren’t scared to cycle in town.

“Some areas are already well served for cyclists, but, overall, the picture is very mixed and could be improved.”

Last week, Suffolk County Council announced it had cancelled its consultation, launched on November 1, after ‘listening to residents’. It was due to run until December 20.

The council had wanted to make it ‘safer and easier’ to walk and cycle by making roads ‘less busy’.

Consultations in Woodbridge, Felixstowe, Copdock and Capel St Mary however are still going ahead.

Bury St Edmunds proposals stretched from Barton Road in the east to Newmarket Road in the west.

It included shared cycle lanes, zebra crossings, pedestrian and cyclist priority areas.

Some parts of the proposal, however, including making a section of Barton Road one way, were criticised by residents in the area and on Moreton Hall estate.

Other ideas to create a kerbed cycle lane along Risbygate Street and a ‘give and take’ shuttle system over Abbot’s Bridge also caused concern.

Cllr Nettleton, who represents Tower division, said: “I was surprised when the county council cancelled the consultation, with no real explanation, and for the time being. How long is the time being?

“It was very similar to an earlier proposal which I called the route from nowhere to nowhere and back again.

“Some of it made no sense and it doesn’t serve a real purpose for anyone. It is nowhere near schools, for instance.”

Cllr Nettleton has submitted his own proposals, including alternative ideas including Shakers Lane, Newmarket Road, Bennett Avenue, Westley Estate and Northgate Street.

The Active Travel Forum lists Cannon Street, St John’s Street and Beetons Way as problem areas.

It feels Moreton Hall and Marham Park are already ‘well served’.

Jonathan Howe, who runs Risbygate Solicitors in Risbygate Street and is a keen cyclist, welcomed the appeal to the council.

He said: “If you want to improve things for cyclists, you want to consult cyclists, former cyclists and potential cyclists, but also those who use e-bikes and mobility scooters as we often share the same space and, of course, pedestrians.

“I don’t think they should lose the whole idea The idea for a Brentgovel Street cycle lane is a good one, for example, as cyclists use that cut through illegally all the time.

“Consultation is key, involving the right people from the start in two stages: What are the issues? What might we do to resolve them and promote cycling?

“Unless you know what the issues are, you try to solve something that isn’t broken.”

Bury St Edmunds Active Travel Forum is also in the process of responding to a Suffolk County Council consultation over plans for the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP).

LCWIPs are part of the Government’s plan to double the number of people who cycle and increase walking activity by 2025.

The forum’s proposals include routes into Bury St Edmunds from villages including Culford, Risby, Great Whelnetham and Fornham All Saints.

Hugo Greer-Walker, a solicitor and member of the group, said: “There is a strong case for more active travel and this is what our pressure group was set up to promote.

“The proposals for the town centre were not the best designed and we would be happy to contribute our ideas for something more sympathetic and sensible.”

A spokesperson for Suffolk County Council said: “The council will arrange further engagement with residents to support the future development of proposals.

“While the funding has not yet been allocated, the primary aim of the consultation was to prepare and determine a clear scheme for when the funding becomes available.

“We would like to thank the residents again who participated in the consultation and shared their valuable feedback.”