Wellingborough & Rushden Area Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan – Final stage

Residents, organisations and business were invited to give their view on the proposed routes identified for the Wellingborough & Rushden Area Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) which was created in collaboration with Pell Frischmann and Brightwayz.

The LCWIP provides a strategic approach to identifying cycling and walking improvements at a local level and enable the long-term approach to developing networks.

This LCWIP had a range of engagement and consultation with stakeholders and the public throughout the development of the plan. This engagement included a series of workshops with key stakeholders and residents that were held during the development of the LCWIP.

Participants at the most recent public consultation were able to comment on:

• How they felt about the overall LCWIP and why they answered in that way
• Comments on any of the proposed routes/improvements
• Any other comments

Following the drafting of the LCWIP Technical Report, public consultation was undertaken between 16 September and 27 October. This consultation was undertaken primarily using the NNC Citizenspace online platform, but with respondents also able to submit their responses by other methods.

The online public consultation was promoted to stakeholders/residents who had already been involved in the development of the LCWIP as well as to the wider population through various media. In addition, various events were attended to raise the profile of the consultation and to help those wanting to comment upon the proposals.

There were 44 online respondents and 5 responses received by other means to this consultation

As part of this consultation, respondents were asked for their overall feeling about the LCWIP. 74% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed with the overall LCWIP. 22% of respondents disagreed or strongly disagreed with the LCWIP. Only 4% of respondents were neutral in their view of the LCWIP proposals. It is noticeable that the proportion of respondents who provided a neutral response for this consultation was significantly lower than that recorded during the May 2024 public consultation. This may reflect the fact that many respondents used the earlier consultation to provide suggestions to improve the proposals.

Each of the responses and comments have been analysed and considered. A Consultation Report that summarises the findings of this analysis was prepared and reported to NNC members (along with a report on the overall engagement for the overall LCWIP process) when approval of the Wellingborough & Rushden Area LCWIP proposals was sought.

The detailed analysis and consideration of the consultation comments has resulted in some additional clarification being agreed to be provided within the route proposals plans for Wellingborough Road in Rushden.