HAS the project to widen the footpath alongside the A65 Burton Road at Kendal to make it a cycleway been properly risk assessed?

Is it acceptable for vehicles (bicycles) travelling at 30-35mph downhill past the hospital, to mix with pedestrians (walkers, joggers, runners and mothers pushing prams) travelling at 2-6mph?

The said pedestrians are often wearing headphones and cannot hear the approaching high-speed cyclists, even if they did have a bell to ring to warn of their approach, which most don’t.

I would welcome Cumbria County Council publishing the risk assessment that has been carried out to assess this, together with the control measures they are going to put in place to keep moving vehicles (cyclists) and pedestrians safely segregated to prevent the accidents that will surely occur if they don’t.

Derek Lomax

Crosscrake

l Editor's note: The Westmorland Gazette contacted Cumbria County Council after receiving Mr Lomax's letter and here is a response from its spokesman.

This is a shared use cycleway, and has been subject to a road safety audit - no issues or risks have been identified in relation to the shared use nature of the cycleway, because by definition, it will be used by both cyclists and pedestrians.

The cycleway is three metres wide, which is the recommended width set by Sustrans, the UK charity making it easier for people to cycle and walk.

The cycleway has signage advising that it is shared use, and additional markings will soon be added to the cycleway surface to make people further aware.