Mole Valley Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP)

What is the Mole Valley Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan?

The Mole Valley Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) is a ten-year investment plan for walking and cycling in the district. It identifies where we want to prioritise investment and sets out some initial options and ideas for improving walking and cycling across the district.

LCWIPs are the best practice approach nationally for planning walking and cycling improvements and our process follows Department for Transport guidance. To find out more about LCWIPs, including what they are and the process that we have followed to develop LCWIPs for the county, please see our dedicated webpage.

The LCWIP focuses on strategic network connections and aims to create a wider walking and cycling network for the district. Local neighbourhood and street level interventions are not included within the LCWIP and will be part of separate workstreams that aim to improve walking and cycling provision at smaller scales. For example, we aim to develop 'Liveable Neighbourhood' schemes to increase the comfort, safety and accessibility of walking and cycling on residential roads by recognising the importance of these streets as places for people, and not just their importance for the movement of vehicles. Liveable Neighbourhoods will create attractive local environments that connect residents to the wider LCWIP network and make walking and cycling easier, safer, more enjoyable, convenient and fun for everyone. To find out more about our plans for walking and cycling at the street and neighbourhood scale, please see our Local Transport Plan policies for Planning for Place and for Active Travel and Social Mobility.

If you would like to view the Mole Valley LCWIP report in full, please email surreytransportplan@surreycc.gov.uk to request a copy, or see below for a summary of the report.

Executive summary

The Mole Valley LCWIP's key proposals are cycling routes and Core Walking Zones, which together create a walking and cycling network for the district. These proposals are outlined below.

All cycling routes and Core Walking Zones identified in the LCWIP have been designated as either Phase 1, 2 or 3. This helps to prioritise investment over the LCWIP's ten-year lifespan. Phase 1 routes and zones are those that we aim to implement in the short-term, whilst we aim to implement Phase 2 routes and zones over the medium-term, and Phase 3 routes and zones in the longer term. Prioritisation of the routes and Core Walking Zones is based on a number of factors, including:

Present and future demand for the route, including local stakeholder input, road traffic collision data and projected usage
The quality that improvements will deliver compared to the provision that currently exists on the route
How the route will contribute to increased access for walking and cycling to key destinations such as schools, doctors' surgeries, hospitals, rail and bus stations, high streets, and parks

The full LCWIP report includes network maps that show the locations of all of the cycling routes and Core Walking Zones. It also includes initial concept ideas for the Phase 1 routes and zones and explains and lists the full prioritisation programme of all of the different cycling routes and walking zones.

The LCWIP has considered the full extent of the district, with an emphasis on key trip attractors and destinations that will encourage and allow more people to take up walking and cycling as their everyday modes of transport.

Cycling Network

Phase 1 Cycling Routes

Leatherhead to Great Bookham and Effingham

This route will provide a cycling connection between Leatherhead town centre, Fetcham and Great Bookham, extending to Howard of Effingham School. This corridor primarily serves residential areas and has potential for future extension to Guildford. The proposed interventions aim to improve cycling access to Leatherhead town centre, the commercial centre of Bookham, Bookham local centre and local schools.

The route presents two possible alignment options: via Lower Road, or via Guildford Road. The LCWIP report presents potential design options for each of these alignments, which will be explored further during feasibility. The length of the proposed route via Lower Road is approximately 5.85 kilometres. The length of the proposed route via Guildford Road is approximately 5.54 kilometres.

Leatherhead to Epsom (northern corridor)

This corridor will connect Leatherhead town centre, Ashtead Railway station and the surrounding residential area. It will also serve local schools as an alternative to cycling on the A24 and has the potential for future extension to Epsom. The proposals made in the Mole Valley LCWIP aim to incorporate existing proposals as part of the Transform Leatherhead Master Plan.

The proposed route aims to provide an east-west cycling corridor that will enable more journeys between Ashtead and Leatherhead town centre to be made by bike, as well as improving safe cycling access to local schools. The approximate length of the proposed corridor is 4.51 kilometres.

Phase 2 and 3 Cycling Routes

Dorking to Leatherhead. This corridor will connect Leatherhead and Dorking town centres, starting at Leatherhead High Street and passing through Mickleham and Pixham. The corridor primarily follows the A24. This route is a 1930s DfT Heritage Cycle Route and the subject of a separate feasibility study, outside of the LCWIP.
Leatherhead to Kingston boundary. This corridor aims to create a cycling connection between Leatherhead town centre, the railway station, and the Kingston borough boundary. It will serve business parks and local commercial centres. The LCWIP proposals aim to incorporate existing plans as part of the Transform Leatherhead Master Plan. The approximate length of the route is 5.33 kilometres.
Dorking to North Holmwood. This corridor will connect Dorking to North Holmwood, starting in the commercial centre of Dorking. The majority of this route will follow the A2003.
Westcott to Dorking. This corridor will connect Dorking to Westcott, starting in the commercial centre of Dorking and primarily following the A25.
Dorking to Betchworth. This route will connect Dorking to Betchworth, primarily following the A25.
Charlwood to Hookwood. This corridor will connect Charlwood to Hookwood via The Street, Horley Road and Charlwood Road.
Charlwood to Horley and Gatwick. This corridor will connect Charlwood to the neighbouring district of Crawley, providing a cycling connection to Gatwick Airport. The route primarily follows Lowfield Heath Road.
Beare Green to North Holmwood. This route will connect Beare Green to North Holmwood via the A24. Links to the Dorking to North Holmwood corridor will provide an onward cycling connection to Dorking.
Leatherhead to Office Park. This corridor will connect Leatherhead Railway Station to Office Park, following the A254.
Great Bookham north and south. This corridor will connect Great Bookham commercial centre to Bookham Railway Station via Church Road.
Fetcham to Leatherhead. This route will connect Fetcham and Leatherhead via Cobham Road and Mill Lane, with sections of the route utilising existing bridleways away from the carriageway.

Walking Network

Phase 1 Core Walking Zones

Core Walking Zones are areas where a number of walking trip generators, like shops, schools, town centres and business parks, are located close to each other. These are areas where there is high demand for walking because of the trip generators, and a need to improve infrastructure and access for pedestrians.

Dorking

The Dorking Core Walking Zone extends around, and includes, Dorking town centre. It will provide improved walking connections between the town centre and the railway station, local schools, local residential areas and future development sites, with a focus on the A25 (High Street and Reigate Road), West Street and South Street. The LCWIP proposals aim to incorporate existing proposals as part of Future Dorking. The approximate population within a ten-minute walk of the Dorking Core Walking Zone is 10,000.

Leatherhead

The Leatherhead Core Walking Zone extends around, and includes, the town centre. It is focussed on the area along High Street, Bridge Street, Leret Way and Station Road. It will provide improved walking connections between Leatherhead town centre and Leatherhead Railway Station, the business park, local schools, and future development sites. The LCWIP proposals aim to incorporate existing proposals as part of the Transform Leatherhead Master Plan. The approximate population within a ten-minute walk of the Leatherhead Core Walking Zone is 6000.

North Leatherhead

This Core Walking Zone extends along Kingston Road and the local commercial area north of Leatherhead. The zone partially overlaps with the Leatherhead Core Walking Zone. The proposals in this area will improve pedestrian access to local schools, commercial areas, employment sites and Leatherhead town centre. The approximate population within a ten-minute walk of the North Leatherhead Core Walking Zone is 6500.

Phase 2 and 3 Core Walking Zones

Ashtead. This Core Walking Zone is centred around Ashtead's local shopping, dining and commercial area along Leatherhead Road, The Street and Epsom Road. It will improve pedestrian safety and access in the area, and link to the railway station and local schools. The total population within a ten-minute walk of the walking zone is approximately 6500.
Lower Ashtead. The Lower Ashtead Core Walking Zone is focussed around the local high street along Barnett Wood Lane, Craddock's Avenue and Woodfield Lane. It also includes improved links to the railway station and local school. The total population within a ten-minute walk of the walking zone is approximately 7000.
Fetcham. This zone is focussed around the local shopping, dining and commercial area along The Street and Cobham Road and includes links to the two local schools. The total population within a ten-minute walk of the Fetcham Core Walking Zone is approximately 5000.
Great Bookham. This Core Walking Zone is centred around the High Street area and includes the A246 (Guildford Road), Leatherhead Road, and Lower Road. The total population within a ten-minute walk of the zone is approximately 7500.
Beare Green. The Beare Green Core Walking Zone is focussed around the village centre along Old Horsham Road and the junction with the A24 It includes improved connections to the railway station. The total population within a ten-minute walk of the zone is approximately 1500.
Brockham. The Brockham Core Walking Zone is focussed around the village centre along Brockham Lane and Middle Street and includes improved walking links to the local school. The total population within a ten-minute walk of the zone is approximately 4000.
Capel. This Core Walking Zone is focussed on the village centre along The Street. It includes improved walking connections to the local school. The total population within a ten-minute walk of the zone is approximately 1500.
Charlwood. This zone focuses on the village centre along The Street, and also includes Rectory Lane and Norwood Hill Road, linking to the local school. The total population within a ten-minute walk of the Charlwood Core Walking Zone is approximately 600.
Hookwood. The Hookwood Core Walking Zone is centred around the village centre along the A217, Reigate Road and London Road. It includes walking links to Spire Gatwick Park Hospital and Gatwick Airport. The total population within a ten-minute walk of the zone is approximately 4000.
Westcott. This Core Walking Zone is focussed around the village centre along the A25 Guildford Road and includes improved pedestrian links to the local school. The total population within a ten-minute walk of the zone is approximately 2000.

Next steps

The Mole Valley LCWIP report should be used to support the case for further stages of design, assessment, and stakeholder engagement, and to secure funding to progress improvements for the cycling routes and Core Walking Zones identified by the report. Because the LCWIP is intended to facilitate a long-term approach to developing active travel proposals, over a period of approximately 10 years, all of the corridors identified within the active travel network maps are recommended for further consideration at an appropriate time.

The next stage of implementing the Mole Valley LCWIP will be to further develop the design concepts for selected Phase 1 cycling routes and Core Walking Zones into a feasibility level of design and assessment. This will include full public consultation, allowing residents and other local stakeholders to have their say on the individual scheme proposals.

The LCWIP will be reviewed and updated periodically, particularly in response to significant changes in local circumstances such as the publication of new policies or strategies.

If you wish to view the full Mole Valley LCWIP report or receive it in a more accessible format, please email surreytransportplan@surreycc.gov.uk requesting a copy.