Cirencester Park access road
Comments
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KJ
I initially only skipped through the planning document but on more careful reading it is indeed the College that is causing the problem and of course they would not, I imagine, have no real interest in the campsite as that is probably on land owned by the Bathurst Estate? I suppose it is probable that the Bathurst Estate did originally consult the Club and that was probably where the 5 metre width was suggested but this has clearly been overridden by the College and how we have ended up with a totally unsuitable approach road to the site. It might also explain why the Club, apparently, did not offer a view on the plans if they felt that was being handled by the Bathurst Estate? It is difficult to see what recourse the Club has. Perhaps the Club should have been more proactive in helping to pay for the new road which would have given them a stake in deciding on the design?
David
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Yes, I found it strange that the college stated the Club had not taken part when invited to comment.
Looking at the plans, the passing places seem to be only 2m wide, though I may be wrong as the text on the drawings Is difficult to read, so pretty narrow for passing. What will happen when an incoming caravan meets a MH going out for shopping etc? Or a returning from shopping MH meets a caravan leaving in the morning?
Will be like some of the bends on the route to the Club's Coniston site, when a caravan meets a large MH, and we will not be going there again either!
The comment that the college had agreed to provide the passing places "to assist caravanners who were not skilled at reversing" is laughable! I can reverse, but there are limits, and I certainly would not want to be faced with reversing a 12.75m outfit over 200metres, with 2 bends, and only about 37cm clearance either side!!
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The other issue, particularly in the darker months, is that the only way back from town after 5pm is the new road. The college was going on about safety and separating pedestrians, but was only considering students and staff. There is no walkway along the side of the road, only the prospect of walking along it and nipping behind a rock if anything comes. There is often a fair bit of comming and going from the tennis club, which has floodlights. As the new road is a fair bit further away, there will not be much overspill from the college lights, so it will be fairly dark once the clocks go back.
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Unfortunately I think that the new road has made the access to what is a really good site very poor, I will be waiting for the comments once the site has opened. I have booked for September but I am starting to think I should look for an alternative, which is a shame. Even without the rocks I think this road would be difficult to access, even for cars just going out for the day may bring problems. I can see a few arguments over who should back up when two vehicles meet and the college may find it has created a problem for it's own vehicles. I dread to think what will happen when the Cotswold Show is on, as this is the main exit road.
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We've used this site quite a few times and enjoyed each visit. We will remember fondly our last stay here, as unless the access road is made more caravan friendly, it will be our last visit.
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Have just cancelled my booking for July. We know this road very well having bounced up and down It with three motorhomes Over the years.
We swapped to our first ever caravan the day before lockdown and there is no way I would risk towing it as a novice down that road.
even if the club introduce out by 12 and in after 1 this will not stop you meeting the summertime traffic to the cricket and tennis club. Unlike somewhere like chatsworth which is tightly controlled but where you won’t face any oncoming traffic other than the site’s
so long Cirencester, it was great while it lasted !
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Hi everyone,
I just wanted to let you all know we are aware of the issue and are currently speaking with the College (who put the new road in) to look at alternatives. I will update you all ASAP when I have further information on this.
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Hi Rowena. Can you advise if there is any likelihood that the access will be improved in time for your proposed opening in July?
many thanks
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Lengthening of passing places would be pretty major work. They are apparently intended for cars to pull over to allow caravans to pass, but no thought has been given to a large MH meeting a large caravan outfit regarding the width of the road at the passing place, especially with those rocks there!
The possibility of a caravan meeting a caravan would need to be eliminated.
The banking can be stabilised with mesh and planting, and the large rocks could be replaced where necessary with lower long ones that would allow tail swing without danger of impact, or even some sort of kerb.
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A while ago I had a chat with the Operations Director of Cirencester College, who I met as I was walking along the new access road. The road could have been made as wide as the Bathurst Estate liked BUT the extra width would have had to be on Bathurst Estate land - which they declined.
Why would the College state in a planning document that ‘The Caravan Club did not respond to invitations to this consultation’ if this was not the case? The College took notice of representations from the tennis and cricket clubs and acted on them.
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I know nothing about what’s going on but it’ll take more than 18 days for any decision to be made, let alone to carry out work.
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This discussion is also taking place on Facebook with similar views, comments and cancellations.
I do not envy the wardens trying to placate arrivals who have somehow managed to actually traverse this disaster of a road and arrive on site since most members will not have knowledge of the changes.
If I were them I think I would feel bound to contact all those who have future bookings and warn them of the approach rather than face the wrath of someone who has arrived unaware and damaged a caravan or motor home on the stones.
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Thanks for the update Rowena. We have been visiting Cirencester since 2006, it's one of our favourite sites and also because our daughter and family live close by. We were looking forward to returning in August but as we have quite a large and new tourer I'm not going to risk damage on the rocks or from passing traffic, so regrettably have cancelled and rebooked at Burford. While we are there I'm sure we'll drive over and inspect the road for ourselves !
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I think the very least the club should do is to advise all members that as it stands the access road to this site is unsuitable for caravans (and possibly large MH) due to the very real danger of damage to their vans. This would give members who are not aware of this problem the opportunity to decide if they want to continue with their booking.
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This footage is interesting
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For those interested in the planning documentation I have listed the access routes here:
cotswold.gov.uk > VIEW PLANNING APPLICATIONS
There are 2 references
19/02166/FUL shows documents from 7 Jun 2019 when the planning process started to 17 Dec 2019 when conditional approval was given requiring passing places to be incorporated.
I have copied here a section from the Case Officer Delegated Report dated 17 Dec 2019 where the Local Highway Authority have stated that a 3m width road with passing places would be adequate:
"The Local Highway Authority (LHA) has been consulted and visited the site. The private road is well used by caravans, vehicles and pedestrians. The existing arrangement places all users in to the same environment and the proposal seeks to separate pedestrians and cyclists from motor traffic for part of the lane, which, in this instance, is considered beneficial for the safety of pedestrians.
The LHA has had regard for the views of the third parties who have rights over the lane and have raised concern that the width of the proposed private road to be too narrow to accommodate caravans. However, the LHA considers that given the level of interference created by all the associated movements, there are no compelling grounds from other users of the lane that the provision of the route with a 3m width and passing places would not be acceptable.
Overall, the LHA has taken this into account and considers that the provision of passing places alongside the road to be sufficient to provide a safe and suitable access, having due
regard of the private nature of the road. Overall, the proposed development is considered to accord with Local Plan Policy INF4 and paragraph 108 of the NPPF."20/10331/COMPLY shows a process which was started on 14 April this year and rapidly completed on 13 May, all during COVID lockdown! There is a detailed 18 page plan written by the College and it is in that where, on p7 it states that "The Caravan Club did not respond to invitations to this consultation". This is the document which shows compliance to the planning requirement for passing places.
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Some of those rocks look very unstable. Imagine a child being crushed under one, it needs someone to do a good risk assessment. That might prompt a review of the rocks. They need embedding at the very least.
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Apology - REF ABOVE SHOULD READ 20/01331/COMPLY
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Removal would be the best option, but I suppose embedding so they stick up the height of a curb and painting in reflective white paint, would be a significant improvement. Big job though. It would stop folk abusing the road edges. Wouldn't make the road any wider though, 3 metres is crazy.
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We're booked into Cirencester Park at the end of July. I'll wait until nearer the time, but likely to cancel.
A 3m wide road is one thing, but the rocks are another.
A short-term measure that might work is a set of temporary traffic lights?
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z93wzxP7UJc
