Warwickshire County Council (WCC) has at last released a proposal for the next phase of K2L (the Kenilworth to Leamington cycle route). Follow this link for details.
WCC is asking for responses by 21st August 2026, and Cycleways urges people to make their views known.
Although Cycleways agrees that this is an important scheme, we have some serious reservations about the proposed solution.
Here is the response we have submitted (responses should be made by email to syedshah@warwickshire.gov.uk, using the subject “K2L – A452 1b”).
- Cycleways agrees with WCC that provision for cyclists on the A452 needs to be significantly improved. The A452 is a major and important route between Leamington and Kenilworth and the University of Warwick. It also serves local sports and leisure facilities, and is the gateway to quiet rural lanes ideal for cycling.
- There is significant suppressed demand for cycling on this route, as so many cyclists are deterred by the traffic conditions on the A452 – it is fast and narrow and puts cyclists in danger. WCC recognised this suppressed demand at the Council meeting on 17th December 2019.
- Development sites LEA.1, LEA.2 and LEA.3, put forward in the Section 19 Consultation for the development of thousands of houses in the area, will significantly increase traffic on the A452, on surrounding roads, and at the Blackdown roundabout, which is integral to the K2L-A452 1b scheme under discussion
- Points 1, 2 and 3 all point to the pressing need for K2L, and Cycleways is encouraged that WCC is planning this next phase.
- The 470m strip of land on the North Leamington/Kingsley School site will be integral to this scheme, and we look forward to seeing more detail on how the path will be constructed there.
- We feel that the proposals for K2L-A452 1b could do more to meet the LTN 1/20 requirement to be Coherent, Direct, Safe, Comfortable, and Attractive. We would like to see more information provided about proposed cycleway widths and junction designs. Without this detail, it is impossible to say if the scheme proposed will meet WCC’s own Statement of Reasons, in particular Cyclists’ perception of safety, vehicle speed, and potential conflict with pedestrians. We strongly recommend that WCC provides sufficient detail to allow better informed comments and a meaningful consultation.
- In light of point 6, we suggest that the timeframe for the consultation should be extended beyond August 21st 2026 so that additional detail may be made available, and also in recognition of the fact that we are now in the holiday season, with many interested parties likely to be away.
- Wherever the cycleway crosses driveways and junctions, cyclists should have priority, and this should be clearly indicated by careful design.
- The crossing at the Blackdown roundabout is not ideal. Although it is not marked on the plan, we understand that a Toucan crossing is planned on the Stoneleigh Road. The proposed route takes cyclists (and pedestrians) 25m out of their way on each side of the road, and requires a 90-degree turn to cross the road and again to regain the cycleway. We would like to see the radii on the junction with the Stoneleigh Road tightened and the width restricted to slow the traffic down. This would make it feasible to move the crossing closer to the mouth of the junction. A responsive, signal-controlled crossing with a raised table should be installed.
- There is currently no provision for cyclists wishing to travel west on Old Milverton Lane to cross safely and easily. Old Milverton Lane gives access to the Nuffield Hospital and Woodland Grange hotel and conference centre. Additional crossing points would be helpful.
- With a 40mph speed limit, as on the A452 currently, LTN 1/20 recommends 1m separation between the carriageway and the cycleway (LTN 1/20 table 6-1). This is unlikely to be possible on several sections of the proposed route. We strongly request that the speed limit on the A452 is reduced to 30mph, which would allow for a narrower 3m carriageway on each side of the road, in order to liberate more space for the cycleway. This is particularly important for cyclists travelling north against the oncoming traffic, which is very intimidating without adequate separation between the carriageway and the cycleway.
- If development sites LEA.1, LEA.2 and LEA.3 go ahead, it would be useful to seek section 278 developer contributions to implement any improvements to K2L-A452 1b that are not currently achievable.