If you have not been following the debate over the last six months:

• have a look at: CCC Campaign summary.
• have a look at the existing cycleways and our proposed links at Proposals for new links (Google Maps).
• CCC`s campaign summary and response has being updated to take into account the contents of the Management Plan. CCC has now replied to the consultation. See CCC Response to Heath Management Plan (4.4 Mbyte PDF).
• See also Letter to City of London about Strategic Issues in the Management Plan

For brief Summary of points in Heath Management Plan relevant to cyclists, see last item below.

City of London Corporation have provided a webpage for the consultation

The Heath Management Report can be seen at:

Heath Consultation Webpage

There you can find full and summary versions of the management plan and you can either respond interactively or download a response form to send in. Make sure you use the forms below the Management Plan on the webpage.

The response form can be obtained directly from:

Heath Consultation Response Form

Suggested answers to the Response Form

Here are some suggestions as to possible responses. See below for extracts from the management plan.

Q1: Do you agree with Vision and Mission?

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Q2: How should vision and mission be different from that stated?

We suggest one of the following responses:

• Cyclists should be included in the objective of ensuring that the Heath is available, welcoming and accessible for all.
• A more positive attitude to cycling to and on the Heath is overdue and needed. (The cycling review in 2002 was negative in proposing routes on surrounding roads as an alternative to essential on-Heath links; and the Management Committee's rejection of the single approved route was even more negative. The summary of these events in Section 6.6.2 doesn't indicate a change in attitude.)
• The minority of users who cycle should be taken care of, properly catered for and respected by other users. (The Heath’s main users are those who come for non-organised activity and that by far the highest percentage of these come to walk, but cyclists are an important minority)

Q3: What's the one thing you'd really like to see in 10 years time?

• I would like to see a coherent limited network of shared used paths on the Heath, promoted and implemented by the Heath Management.
• This could be achieved by a modest increase in the total length of cycleways by means of new links along the edges of the Heath and from the edges to the existing cycleways.

Q4: Have they identified the right key topics?

• Additional topic - a Green Travel Plan for the Heath (promoting walking and cycling as an alternative to the car). (The Heath Management plan does recognise the need to promote other alternatives to car travel).

Q5: About objectives for each topic

Q5f: (see sn 1.15 of Report) Informal Public Use:

You could make some of the following points (or similar ones):

• The promised review of cycling is welcome, provided it recognizes that improvements outside the Heath are no susbtitute for links between the Cycleways or links to the Cycleways from the edge of the Heath.
• The brief summary of the motivation for the additional cycle links Sn 6.6.2 is fair. (See notes below)
• Improvements outside the Heath do not address the main problem: that is, that the Heath `gets in the way` of many potential journeys, forcing cyclists to go round a much longer way. The 2002 consultants report recommends improvements outside the Heath but fails to consider any new links on the Heath. Cycling on the Heath already exists and improving these facilities must be part of the agenda. (Goal A15 similarly refers to reducing pressure on the Heath by improving routes outside).
• Following the 2002 report, the Heath Management Committee rejected a Link recommended by the consultants. We ask them to take a more positive stand this time, acknowledging the importance of sustainable transport.
• For example, a journey from Highgate Village to Hampstead Village could be made much shorter if cycling were permitted on Lime Avenue. You could give examples of journeys to places such as pools, tennis court from various directions to prove the need for links on lido path, down Millfield Lane etc. See existing cycleways and our proposals for new links.
• No improvements outside the Heath have been implemented since 2002, but the shared use of the footway on Spaniards Road is on the horizon. That will be a great asset. More schemes of this type will be very welcome. (You could give examples)

Q5h: Access and Education

You could use some of the following:

• The Heath Management have recognised the need to consider how visitors could come by train/bus to reduce use of non-renewable energy supplies, but have left out the most sustainable form of transport– the bicycle. Journeys from 2-4 miles away by cycle can take a fraction of the time taken by bus/train. In many cases it beats the car. The Mayor pointed out that an average car journey of four miles in central London would take a cyclist an average of 22 minutes - whereas travelling the same distance by car would take almost twice as long - 40 minutes. See worked examples of bike/bus times to the Heath using the TfL Journey Planner.
• The over-riding objective: to enable visitors to reach any destination on the Heath by cycle, using a safe and reasonably direct route. To provide secure cycle parking at Heath entrances and at other destinations inside the Heath.
• Encourage visitors to come by cycle, eg by directions on a dedicated website. Good signs on verges of Heath.

Summary of points in Management Plan relevant to cyclists

Vision and mission

• to ensure that the Heath is available, welcoming and accessible for all.
• to ensure that it is recognised that the Heath`s main users are those who come for non-organised activity and that by far the highest percentage of these come to walk.

Key Topics

Access and Education (Summary 1.17)

• Work with transport and service providers to improve local signage to encourage use of public transport by visitors

• Improve maps at Heath entrance points

• Increase outreach work in schools and community groups

• Develop an overall Interpretation Plan

• Provide a safe environment for users of the Heath

(Section 6. 8.7) The ability to access the Heath easily by public buses and trains is an important part of reducing the use of non-renewable energy supplies. It is essential to improve relationships with service providers such as Transport for London, Silverlink and local authorities to promote sustainable transport links to the Heath and to provide appropriate signage at train stations and bus stops. The potential for a significant increase in visitors, resulting from proposals to increase train frequency on the current North London Line, needs to be considered.

Informal Public Use (Summary 1.15)

• Recognise that the Heath’s main users are those who come for non-organised activity. By far the highest percentage of these come to walk (with or without dogs)

• Recognise that the Heath is for everyone and recreational activities should not adversely affect others’ enjoyment or the natural aspect of the Heath

• Undertake ongoing surveys of Heath use and users

• Review litter collection, dog-walking, fishing, events and fairs to establish policy guidelines

• Commission a further review of cycling

Informal Public Use (Summary 6.6.2)

There are different bodies of opinion that would like to see:

• All cycling banned from the Heath to conserve its tranquillity

• The situation to remain as it is

• The introduction of additional cycle routes - in particular to improve off-road cycle access from north to south, to improve off-road cycle access for children cycling to school and to provide safe off-road cycle access for recreation

In 2002 consultants were commissioned to review cycling on the Heath. They were asked to consider if there should be additional permitted cycle routes, especially to tie in with the existing cycle networks surrounding the Heath. The conclusion was that an additional permitted route, entering at Gospel Oak, could be considered further, but that any other improvements should take place outside the Heath on existing highways. Following detailed consideration, the Hampstead Heath Management Committee decided not to increase the number of permitted cycle routes.

The problems associated with shared use of paths by pedestrians and cyclists are not unique to the Heath. There should be another review of this issue, consulting as widely as possible. This review must tie-in with the Traffic Management Review (see Aspirational Goal A15).

A15. The potential to increase cycling on routes outside the Heath, thereby reducing pressure on the Heath.