Chilton Interchange Exhibition

I thought one of the suggestions that was posted here was that, to reduce the number of cyclists who feel obliged to use the southwest side of Hagbourne Hill, they could improve the actual route 544 coming NW off Hagbourne Hill so that road bike users felt they could use it. I agree this still leaves others and those who go through Chilton high and dry but it would be something (and no, I am not looking forward to turning right into Chilton village near the new roundabout 🙁 )

The new proposals for the Chilton interchange refer to improvements for cyclists to gain improved access but the fundamental thing that is missing here is the link to the south of the Chilton interchange with the West Ilsley interchange, eliminating the need for (road) cyclists to use the A34. This would open up so many opportunities for cyclists from the south (towards Newbury), east (towards Reading) and west (alternative route from Wantage/Lambourne) with the Harwell campus all along pleasant low-traffic roads. This consultation is a real opportunity to make our voice heard on this important (missing) link. With the disturbance that would occur with the construction of the new Chilton interchange anyway, the addition of a half-mile stretch of tarmac along the west-side shoulder of the A34 would seem to me to be as simple addition.

@M_Cairns: there is already a track across the fields towards the site (as I am sure you know). It seems regrettable that it has not been possible to open this (private) track for cyclists and pedestrians, which would cost extremely little. Laying tarmac along the shoulder of the A34 would undoubtedly be wildly expensive (anything touching a road is).

Yes, that track is fine for a mountain bike, or maybe a hydrid at a push, but there is no suitable alternative than the A34 hard shoulder for road bikes. It may be expensive to implement, but it still should be raised as an issue since the A34 really does provide geographic isolation for many would-be cyclists to the site.

Well said Martin, and of course with the housing developments now taking shape, it’s not just work commuters to site who would benefit (not to mention existing residents of Chilton village itself).

OK I have no argument with that but the description “fine for a mountain bike, or maybe a hydrid at a push” also applies to the Sustrans route over Hagbourne Hill from the A34 bridge west to the site and that is already a national cycle route. Of course *I* think that should be done first ‘cos (if I ever cycle) I use it 🙂

I think we are all violently agreeing that, given a relatively small spend, we could end up with Harwell being at the centre of a fully integrated, cycle friendly transport network, all of which could be achieved by adding just a few features to works already in the pipeline.

The question is; How can we make it happen?

I very rarely go anywhere near the Chilton interchange or the Winnaway on a bike but I can see why others want the improvements and extra features included. However, a word of warning – if the powers that be do agree to extra cycle provision you need to make sure that they aren’t going to be to the standard of Route 44 to Wantage. I imagine most commuting cyclists want a hard surface, not a rut full of limestone mud.

Agreed. Which sends me off on a tangent. Has anyone any experience of towing (kiddie carrier, although any kind of trailer, really) along the 44? I’m trying to work out whether or not I am utterly bonkers to even consider the idea (whilst my other half is gleefully researching expensive bits of all-singing-all-dancing-suspension-high-clearance new bike kit).

I am worried that the idea that we have a national cycle route that I cannot automatically know that I can tow a trailer along (even if we were to buy the absolutely highest spec that we could get our hands on) fills me with such a sense of despair that I risk just doing it anyway out of sheer bl**dy-mindedness.

I presume you are talking about the route to Wantage so Steve can answer that but I would say no from Upton to the crossing near site from the other direction. It would be fine Upton to Didcot….

I would add to what Didcotbob said that the ‘repairs’ done to the part of route 544 near the crossing with A4185 around December combined with the rain have left the track in a worst state than before.

Re trailers on route 44: most of the way between Wantage and Didcot you’d be ok (it’s tarmac or equivalent). There are one or two places which are problematic; the worst is the section between the Harwell tank farm and the Hendred road, part of which is rough and muddy while the remainder is just a couple of ruts full of wet limestone dust. I don’t think many trailers would work well down there unless they are single wheel. It’s the kind of “facility” that shouldn’t be included in the Winnaway or Chilton Interchange projects.