NWL Cycle Map

LCC / NWLDC are producing / publishing a cycle map for North West Leicestshire. This will be along the same lines as the Hinckley cycle map with rural NWL on one side of the map and urban areas Coalville (and probably Ashby) on the other. The map will actually be produced by Cycle City Guides and it is planned to be published in early autumn.

Keith and I have been invited to sit on the working group to develop the map and the first meeting was held at Moira on 22nd April. In addition there were representatives from the National Forest, CTC, LCC and NWLDC. There was some discussion at the meeting over the format and content of the map, but this was pretty much a done deal given that they had recently produced the Hinckley map -that said the Hinckley map is pretty good.

We got given homework!! We were given some rural maps of the NWL area and some coloured felt pens and they want us to use our local knowledge to mark up the maps with recommended cycle roads and routes. We have to complete this by 7th May and there will be a follow up meeting arranged to review (date tbc). Keiths' Castle Donnington work can be input to the map - albeit in rather less detail. At some point we will be given the urban maps of Coalville and Ashby and will need to go through a similar process - Joseph's input would be particularly useful at this point.

We will also need to think about launch and promotion.

At the meeting Alan Leather (National Forest) gave an update on plans for a National Forest Cycle Centre. This will be a purpose built mountain bike centre targetted at beginners with about 8 miles of green and blue trails. The site is about 160HA just outside of Moira. Plans have been passed, funding is in place, construction is due to start in the summer with completion in March 2011.

I also asked about the Leicester city centre map and was told that its publication is imminent! so that's good news.

If anybody would like to contribute to the NWL maps then please let Keith or myself know.

Alan