Have your say on Brackley Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan

Closed 25 Feb 2024

Opened 15 Jan 2024

Feedback updated 14 Apr 2025

We asked

From 15 January to 25 February 2024, we consulted on our draft Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan for Brackley, which sets out our 10 year plan to make it safer and easier for people to walk, wheel and cycle.

The consultation invited views on active travel generally, overall support for the LCWIP and comments on the draft proposals within the town and for six routes to surrounding settlements.

You said

We received 422 responses to the consultation.

  • 84% of respondents said that they agreed or strongly agreed that it should be made easier for people to walk, cycle and wheel for everyday trips to work, school and shops.  
  • 64% of respondents agreed that overall the LCWIP was good or very good. 21% considered it poor or very poor. 

Regarding Brackley's proposals:

  • 77% supported the Manor Road plans. This proposal was also marked as the highest priority by respondents.
  • 62% backed Banbury Road/Market Place proposals.
  • 60% approved Market Place/High Street plans.
  • 68% agreed with High Street/Northampton Road suggestions.

Regarding the proposals for routes to surrounding settlements:

  • 75% supported the proposals for Syresham, Crowfield and Whitfield. This proposal was also marked as the highest priority by respondents.
  • 72% supported Syresham to Silverstone plans.
  • 71% backed Turweston proposals.
  • 69% agreed with Croughton, Hinton and Evenley plans.
  • 70% supported Westbury proposals.
  • 71% agreed with Radstone and Helmdon suggestions.

Further feedback was encouraged on the draft proposals including where respondents felt proposals needed strengthening or altering within the document.

We did

All responses have been reviewed, leading to adjustments in the Brackley LCWIP which include:

  • Manor Road: Updates to reflect an ongoing study in the area.
  • Market Place/High Street: Removed references to bus gates, traffic management measures, and parking charge reviews; added consideration of active travel within future placemaking and public realm schemes.
  • Syresham, Crowfield, and Whitfield: Amendments agreed with National Highways.
  • Silverstone: Aligned with Towcester LCWIP through minor adjustments.
  • Turweston: Proposals made less prescriptive at this stage.
  • Croughton, Hinton, and Evenley: Adjustments agreed with National Highways; added collaboration with Buckinghamshire Council.
  • Westbury: Amendments agreed with National Highways; included consideration of the former railway line between Brackley and Westbury as a long-term option.
  • Cycle Parking: Added reference to integrating cycle parking in scheme development.
  • Stakeholder Engagement: Clarified that full engagement and consultation will occur for individual proposals.

A table summarising these changes is available in the consultation report.

The Brackley LCWIP gained approval through Cabinet 1 April 2025 (item 7), where you can also view the related documentation including the proposals.

Overview

We are seeking your comments and views on the draft Brackley Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan. 

West Northamptonshire Council have worked with transport consultants PJA, who are involved in writing the Department for Transport Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPs) technical guidance, and we are now consulting on our own Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans which detail proposed schemes to make it safer and easier for people to walk, wheel, or cycle. This will help residents and visitors to think about making more journeys actively where they can. 

Background 

The Government has an ambition to make cycling and walking a natural choice for shorter journeys. Introducing more ways to travel by means other than motorised transport will help to reduce traffic and congestion, improve air quality and improve people’s physical and mental health and wellbeing, and increase access to education and employment. 

LCWIPs are the first step in identifying possible schemes, so that over time, joined-up walking and cycling networks are delivered. We have developed LCWIPs for the towns of Brackley, Daventry and Towcester. There will also be a Plan for Northampton which will be consulted on later this year.

The proposals are in an early stage of development and give an indication of what can be delivered.

This consultation relates to the LCWIP for Brackley. Having a LCWIP for Brackley will:

  • Help us to be in the best position to secure more funding for walking and cycling schemes and make sure our projects provide the best value for money by focussing on those areas likely to have the biggest increases in walking and cycling,

  • Help us work proactively with other partners such as National Highways, Network Rail and other stakeholders, including developers, who have access to other sources of funding.

We have developed this work by engaging key stakeholders, and we are now seeking wider views on the proposals.

Documents 

The Brackley LCWIP is a large and complex document. To help people to respond the consultation, we have created a summary document which summarises the key points and outlines the key proposals. To accompany this, we have also produced a glossary document.  

More detailed information is provided in the following technical report and appendices:

What happens next?

We will review the feedback from the consultation and will use it finalise the document before it is taken to Cabinet to make a decision on approving.

The next stage following consultation will be to undertake feasibility design on the proposals to understand what is possible in a particular area. As part of developing schemes up in more detail, further stakeholder and public consultation would be undertaken on a scheme-by-scheme basis.

How to provide your views

We want to hear the views of local businesses, residents, as well as other interested parties and stakeholders.

You can tell us your views by completing the following questionnaire.

You do not have to answer all the questions. If you don’t want to answer a question, or don’t know the answer, then move on to the next question. 

For further information, if you have difficulties accessing the consultation, or would like a copy of this questionnaire in another format please contact Esme Cushing, Principal Transport Planner at LocalTransportPlan@westnorthants.gov.uk

This consultation closes at midnight 25 February 2024.

Interests

  • Consultations
  • Planning and building control