We have continued to run cycle rides (for example Shaw’s Corner, Tewin Orchard Apple Day and around Letchworth) and attend local events such as the Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield Healthfests and the Welwyn Village Day. Perhaps most memorable will be the day of the London ride to explore the cycle routes which the People’s Vote campaign then choose for their huge march. Wading through the crowds at Hyde Park Corner and then detouring to avoid Parliament Square via the horrendous traffic on Lambeth Bridge will not be forgotten in a hurry!
We have written responses to the A414 corridor strategy and the Alban Way Greenspace Action Plan, pushing for more routes and better maintenance. We finally saw the pruning of the French Horn Lane hedge after much campaigning and emailing, a ridiculous saga over something which ought to be a regular action by the local council.
During the year it was good to see the completion of the Woods Ave cycle path linking to the University Halls and a start on the Mount Pleasant link. Our hope is 2020 might bring works in Hatfield town centre completing the missing cycle route from the station to the business park and in WGC a start to work on the Shredded Wheat site and the promised cycle route over Hunters Bridge.
After a further year we find ourselves much as we did the year before. The core members of the group, Roger Moulding, David Dixon, Ian Gregory and Chris Whitehouse, continue to run things and for that I am very grateful. My hope is 2020 will see us with more members enthused by the rides they have enjoyed taking part in and keen to influence the local councils, especially as the green agenda continues to grow.
Adam Edwards