2024 Question 5 - Responses
Over the past year, Cycling UK Stevenage have had to raise concerns about the suitability of cycle parking as part of various planning applications. What will you do to ensure that permission is only granted when cycle parking that is accessible to all users and types of cycle is provided?
Conservative
We would support suitable cycle parking being provided on all developments.
Green
We would need to ensure that the officers of the council draw up a minimum standard for cycle parking that all applications must conform to. There would need to be consultation with Active Travel England to ensure the highest standards. We would look to have representation on the Planning Committee in order that we can challenge plans which do not meet those standards and try to ensure that this scrutiny takes place at the council level rather than members of the public having to read plans in detail.
Labour
This is a matter to be covered in the Local Plan Review that is now underway, as this provides the statutory framework for our cycling related policies, and guides planning control work and the conditions recommended in individual planning applications. This Review will join up our climate change work at the Council, so active travel and its link to health and wellbeing will be key priorities. Secure and sensible cycle parking is a key part of this.
A related point: we appreciate that member training for our Planning and Development Committee would benefit from incorporating an element relating to the particular access and safety needs for people walking and cycling, and for those with special needs, including with disabilities. This point also applies to our responses to Questions 1 and 2.
Liberal Democrat
Liberal Democrats will ensure that the Council’s planning policy should make it clear that sufficient cycle parking is provided within plans and planning officers should not be recommending approval of proposed schemes without this in place.
Reform UK
Answer will be displayed here.
TUSC
The response received was a general statement addressing all 6 questions and can be viewed here.