Active Travel

Active Travel Map

Active travel encourages everyone to use their own power to move from point A to point B, be it walking, scooting, biking, or using e-bikes and e-scooters, wheelchairs, and motorized scooters. Opting for active travel over a car not only benefits your own physical and mental health and well-being but also reduces traffic congestion and air pollution, benefiting our entire community.

Why choose active travel? Cllr Colleen Stapley explains, “Active travel covers any journey you make from home to elsewhere. We want to start by encouraging kids and parents to walk to school and town, but we invite all residents to adopt active travel whenever possible. The focus on the school run is strategic: 1) It’s the summer holidays, offering more time to try out new routes, 2) Active travel has numerous benefits for young people, including improved performance in school, 3) Majority of school-commuting distances in Marlow are a mile or less. To make this experience exciting and engaging for young people we collaborated with the talented local artist, Nicola Metcalfe, who designed both colourful and fun maps for Active Travel and Refill.”

This summer we invite you to explore a new route to walk, bike, or scoot to town and school from your home. Or you can find a place to park further away and walk part of the journey. Let’s turn active travel into an adventure to discover hidden footpaths and routes in Marlow. Swap the car ride for a healthy stride with the help of the Active Travel map.

Active Travel Map

Marlow Footpath Maintenance Policy

Purpose: The purpose of this policy is to ensure the safety and accessibility of footpaths and pavements within the jurisdiction of Buckinghamshire Council and Marlow Town Council (MTC). It outlines the responsibilities of both the local authorities and residents in maintaining clear and obstruction-free footpaths.

Scope: This policy applies to all footpaths and pavements, including those alongside roads and cut-throughs between roads within the area served by Buckinghamshire Council and Marlow Town Council.

Responsibilities:

Buckinghamshire Council and MTC: During the spring and summer months, Buckinghamshire Council and MTC will be responsible for systematically clearing all footpath cut-throughs and coordinating maintenance activities. Community Payback resources may be used to assist in these efforts.
Residents: It is the responsibility of residents to ensure that vegetation from their front and rear gardens does not obstruct footpaths. This includes vegetation that crosses the boundary line at ground level, grows through a fence, or over a fence or wall adjacent to the footpath. Residents are encouraged to maintain their gardens by cutting back vegetation to the boundary line, ensuring it does not encroach onto the pavement.

Safety Concerns: Obstructed footpaths pose safety risks to residents of all ages and abilities. Overgrown vegetation can lead to trip hazards on the pavement surface and may also cause inconvenience or potential injury to pedestrians. It is particularly unsafe for individuals with prams, children, those with visual impairments, and persons with disabilities who may have to divert or step into the road to avoid these obstacles.

Maintenance Guidelines: To maintain the safety and accessibility of footpaths, the following guidelines shall be followed:

Regular Maintenance: Gardens should be regularly maintained, with vegetation cut back to the boundary line (next to, but not over, the pavement).
Seasonal Considerations: Hedges and overgrowth that may house nesting birds should not be cut between April and October unless it poses a hazard to humans.

Footpath Obstruction Reporting: If residents encounter any footpath obstructions, they are encouraged to take the following steps:

Photographic Documentation: Take photos of the footpath obstruction and upload them to “Fix My Street.”
Responsibility Identification: Buckinghamshire Council and MTC will determine who is responsible for the obstruction and decide on the appropriate course of action.
Two-Week Resolution Period: If the responsibility falls on residents, they will be contacted, and they will have two weeks to remove the obstruction.
Follow-up: After two weeks, an inspection will be conducted to ensure the obstruction is cleared. If it remains, further communication with the resident will occur.
Non-Compliance: If the obstruction is not cleared within the two-week period and there is no future date set for resolution, no reasonable explanation for the delay, and no communication from the resident, the council will take the necessary steps to clear the obstruction. This is not the preferred course of action and may result in a remedial notice being issued By Buckinghamshire Council with the property owner liable for the costs.

Community Support: Walking is an essential activity that supports both physical and mental health and benefits the environment. All residents are encouraged to support the local community by cutting back their gardens every spring before the growing season begins and monitoring them throughout the summer to ensure clear, safe footpaths for everyone.

This policy serves to promote a safe and accessible environment for all residents and visitors in our community and emphasizes the shared responsibility between local authorities and residents to maintain clear footpaths.

MVAS

To ensure safety and promote active travel, MTC has installed three Moveable Vehicle Activated Signs (MVAS).

These signs encourage drivers to slow down, creating safer places for active travel.