What is the Runnymede Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan?
The Runnymede Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) is a ten-year investment plan for walking and cycling in the borough. It identifies where we want to prioritise investment and sets out some initial options and ideas for improving walking and cycling across the borough.
LCWIPs are the best practice approach nationally for planning walking and cycling improvements and our process follows . To find out more about LCWIPs, including what they are and the process that we have followed to develop LCWIPs for the county, please see our plans to improve cycling and walking page.
The LCWIP focuses on strategic network connections and aims to create a wider walking and cycling network for the borough. Local neighbourhood and street level interventions are not included within the LCWIP and will be part of separate workstreams that aim to improve walking and cycling provision at smaller scales. For example, we aim to develop 'Liveable Neighbourhood' schemes to increase the comfort, safety and accessibility of walking and cycling on residential roads by recognising the importance of these streets as places for people, and not just their importance for the movement of vehicles. 'Liveable Neighbourhoods' will create attractive local environments that connect residents to the wider LCWIP network and make walking and cycling easier, safer, more enjoyable, convenient, and fun for everyone. To find out more about our plans for walking and cycling at the street and neighbourhood scale, please see our Local Transport Plan policies for Planning for Place and for Active Travel and Personal Mobility.
If you would like to view the Runnymede LCWIP report in full, please email surreytransportplan@surreycc.gov.uk to request a copy.
Executive summary
The Runnymede LCWIP's key proposals are cycling routes and walking zones, which together create a walking and cycling network for the borough.
All cycling routes and walking zones identified in the LCWIP have been designated as either Phase 1, 2 or 3. This helps to prioritise investment over the LCWIP's ten-year lifespan. Phase 1 routes and zones are those that we aim to implement in the short-term, whilst we aim to implement Phase 2 routes and zones over the medium-term, and Phase 3 routes and zones in the longer term. Prioritisation of the routes and zones is based on a number of factors, including:
- Present and future demand for the route, including local stakeholder input, road traffic collision data and projected usage.
- The quality that improvements will deliver compared to the provision that currently exists.
- How the route or zone will contribute to increased access for walking and cycling to key destinations such as schools, doctors' surgeries, hospitals, rail and bus stations, high streets, and parks
The full LCWIP report includes network maps that show the locations of all of the cycling routes and walking zones. It also includes initial concept ideas for the Phase 1 routes and zones and explains and lists the full prioritisation programme of all of the different cycling routes and core walking zones.
The LCWIP has considered the full extent of the borough, with an emphasis on key trip attractors and destinations that will encourage and allow more people to take up walking and cycling as their everyday modes of transport.
Cycling network
Phase 1 cycling routes
Thorpe Road / Chertsey to Egham
This route serves both Chertsey and Egham town centres, upgrading current provision in the town centres as well as connecting the areas with each other and local residential areas.
Egham and Chertsey are within ideal cycling distance of each other, with only slight gradients on the route between them. Data analysis shows a very high potential for cycling between these locations. The route has a number of alternative alignments which will be explored further during feasibility. The approximate length of the route is 8 kilometres.
Weybridge Road
Running from Chertsey to Weybridge town centre, northeast of Addlestone, this route serves a large number of destinations including Saint George's College and Bourne and Weybridge Business Parks. This approximate length of this route is 3 kilometres.
The route looks to upgrade existing low-quality cycle facilities and implement new ones where possible, enabling safer travel to Weybridge station which has frequent connections to London and other destinations in ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø. Two potential alignments are proposed via existing facilities or off-carriageway paths, these will be explored further as part of the feasibility study.
Egham to Virginia Water via the A30
This route connects Egham to Virginia Water via the A30, linking to key employment centres such as Royal Holloway University and Egham International School. The route is approximately 8.5km in length, with one-way or two-way segregated cycle tracks proposed along the entire route.
This route records a high number of cycle trips and shows high potential for a further increase of cycling by up to 5 times the current usage.
Thorpe Lea Road / Thorpe Road
This route extends from Staines Bridge to Thorpe Lea Road, where, at present, cycle provision is narrow and inconsistent. The route seeks to provide a safe connection through a mixture of land uses including: schools, local shops and residential areas.
It is an important local corridor linking Thorpe Industrial Estate to Staines Railway Station, which has frequent connections to London and therefore has a high potential for an increase of cyclists.
Phase 1 Cycling Routes map
The below map image shows the extent of the four cycling routes that have been prioritised in the Runnymede LCWIP (Chertsey to Egham, Weybridge Road, Egham to Virginia Water and Thorpe Lea Road).
Phase 2 and 3 cycling routes
- Chertsey Bridge. This route links Chertsey town centre with a number of residential areas. Approximate length: 2 kilometres.
- Guildford Road/A320. This route looks to improve the connection between Chertsey, St Peter's Hospital, Ottershaw and Woking. Approximate length: 5 kilometres.
- Woodham Lane/B385. This route will serve the Broadway Shopping Centre and the Animal and Plant Health Agency with potential for links to Byfleet and New Haw and West Byfleet Railway Stations. Approximate length: 3 kilometres.
- New Haw Road/A318. This route will link Addlestone town centre with Byfleet and New Haw Railway Station as an alternativ