Testun llawn:
Since the meeting and after hearing all the various views I am even more convinced that to allow this to occur would be completely the wrong decision and simple open the gates for a free for all for cycling throughout the Abbey Fields by cyclists and particularly children, changing the whole environment with this precious facility and treasure of our Town.
The alternative route to be considered to allow cyclists coming from Coventry to Leek Wootton would be to turn off from the Kenilworth Road left along Hyde Road , Abbey Hill across the top of the Abbey Fields, down either Forrest Road to pick up the route again, or down Abbey End and Warwick Road into Town and right into Randall Road etc.
This gives them a pleasant route into Town if required or bypass around the Fields.
I hope you find these thoughts helpful and constructive. Please read below.
'I am a cyclist, living adjacent to the Abbey Fields, and very often cycle on the roads around them without a problem, except that the hills put my 76 years to the test on occasions !
I have listened to the arguments for allowing cyclists to short cut through the Abbey Fields with a new track etc but disagree with this proposal. Similar experiences in much larger parks, such as Hyde Park in London, reveal that they cause friction between pedestrians, people using the Fields for relaxation and pleasure, and cyclists --- straying on to each others tracks, prompting arguments and shouting matches etc. Younger cyclists completely ignoring the boundaries of the track in a free for all etc.
But my main issue is that the Abbey Fields is a relatively small protected treasure in our Town, an area with many features and facilities that don't lend themselves to being used as a short cut for cyclists. Its introduction would be courting trouble, the opening of a track would spoil the ambiance and the need for the short cut is not justified for such a small time-saver for cyclists.
I also agree with Roy Shearing, making changes as significant as this will be the thin end of a very wide wedge for future precedents and appeals.
Keep Abbey Fields fully protected as it is please, in all its beauty and with all its delightful facilities'