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Surveys

Section 1 - Honeybourne Line to Racecourse Roundabout

Key stakeholders and the wider public were asked to comment on the proposals for Section 1 of the new cycleway between Honeybourne Line and Cheltenham Racecourse Roundabout in Cheltenham.

The engagement was carried out between 9 May and 20 June 2023 for key stakeholders and consultees and between 16 May and 28 June 2023 for the wider public. The engagement involved public share events people could attend, and an online survey people could fill in.

We reached out to over 100 different key stakeholders and consultees via email and delivered over 1400 letters to residents within the local area. We also promoted the events and engagement survey on social media and issued a press release.

Findings from the survey can be found below.

Participation and demographics

A total of 245 responses were received, this included 25 individual email contributions and 220 survey responses.

79.6% of responses were received from residents living near the scheme. The next highest percentage of responses were submitted by non-local residents who currently do no walk or cycle the route (4.1%). Local employees represented 4.7% of all responses, which was a mixture of employees who cycle and/or walk the route or don’t cycle or walk the route.

Of these, a higher proportion were male 53.3% compared to female correspondents 35%.

Most respondents fell into 55-64 age category (21.9%), closely followed by 45-54 (19.1%) and 35-44 category (18.6%). There was a lower response rate from older generation - 65-74 (11.6%) and over 75 (8.8%). Younger age category response rate was the lowest with 7.9% from 25-34 and 2.3% 18-24 age category.

Overview of responses

Do you own a bicycle (or e-bike) at the moment?

A high proportion of the respondents (80.1%) stated that they own a bicycle, compared with only 19.9% who do not. 14.3% of respondents who answered that they do not own a bike are considering getting one.

Do you think more people should take up cycling?

83.1% of respondents believe that more people should take up cycling. A small proportion (16.9%) did not agree.

How would you describe your cycling ability and confidence?

Over half of the respondents (62.2%) consider themselves being confident cyclists – they cycle for fun or commute to work on a bike. Additionally, 3.2% of correspondents are members of a cycling club or professionally complete. A smaller proportion (17.8%) admitted that they are novice or total beginners.

A high number of respondents (65% compared with 27.2%) felt that the new cycleway would give people more confidence to start cycling. 7.8% were unsure.

66.5% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the new cycleway will make cycling feel safer and more convenient. 28.4% disagreed or strongly disagreed with this statement and 11 did not have an opinion.

How do you feel about the current layout and space available for cyclists?

65.4% of respondents felt very dissatisfied or dissatisfied with the current cycling infrastructure available on this route, 34.6% felt that the current facilities were satisfactory.

Would high quality and safe pedestrian and cycle infrastructure encourage you to cycle and/or walk more often?

70.8% of respondents stated that the proposed cycleway improvements would encourage them to start use facilities more. This is compared with 24.7% who said it would not, and 4.6% who were unsure.

Will a new cycleway along the A435 from Honeybourne Line to Racecourse Roundabout benefit the local community?

64% of the respondents felt that the cycleway would be beneficial to the local community, however 27% disagreed with this statement, 9% were unsure.

Other responses

  • A high number of respondents (63.7% compared to 30.7%), felt that the new cycleway would make it a better place to live, by improving the environment, air quality and tackling climate change.
  • A large proportion of respondents (70.7% compared to 23.3%) felt that the new cycleway would enable people to improve their fitness and health.
  • A higher number of respondents (60% compared to 27.4%) felt that the new cycleway would help support good mental health for people nearby. 12.6% were unsure.
  • A similar number of respondents (57.7% compared to 30.7%) felt that the new cycleway would help young people to cycle to school.
  • An encouraging number of respondents (67.6% compared to 28.2%) believed that the new cycleway would provide an alternative to driving a car for some trips.
  • A higher number of respondents (56.7% compared to 30%) felt that the new cycleway would help people without a car to access jobs and training opportunities.

Participation and demographics

A total of 245 responses were received, this included 25 individual email contributions and 220 survey responses.

79.6% of responses were received from residents living near the scheme. The next highest percentage of responses were submitted by non-local residents who currently do no walk or cycle the route (4.1%). Local employees represented 4.7% of all responses, which was a mixture of employees who cycle and/or walk the route or don’t cycle or walk the route.

Of these, a higher proportion were male 53.3% compared to female correspondents 35%.

Most respondents fell into 55-64 age category (21.9%), closely followed by 45-54 (19.1%) and 35-44 category (18.6%). There was a lower response rate from older generation - 65-74 (11.6%) and over 75 (8.8%). Younger age category response rate was the lowest with 7.9% from 25-34 and 2.3% 18-24 age category.

Overview of responses

Do you own a bicycle (or e-bike) at the moment?

A high proportion of the respondents (80.1%) stated that they own a bicycle, compared with only 19.9% who do not. 14.3% of respondents who answered that they do not own a bike are considering getting one.

Do you think more people should take up cycling?

83.1% of respondents believe that more people should take up cycling. A small proportion (16.9%) did not agree.

How would you describe your cycling ability and confidence?

Over half of the respondents (62.2%) consider themselves being confident cyclists – they cycle for fun or commute to work on a bike. Additionally, 3.2% of correspondents are members of a cycling club or professionally complete. A smaller proportion (17.8%) admitted that they are novice or total beginners.

A high number of respondents (65% compared with 27.2%) felt that the new cycleway would give people more confidence to start cycling. 7.8% were unsure.

66.5% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the new cycleway will make cycling feel safer and more convenient. 28.4% disagreed or strongly disagreed with this statement and 11 did not have an opinion.

How do you feel about the current layout and space available for cyclists?

65.4% of respondents felt very dissatisfied or dissatisfied with the current cycling infrastructure available on this route, 34.6% felt that the current facilities were satisfactory.

Would high quality and safe pedestrian and cycle infrastructure encourage you to cycle and/or walk more often?

70.8% of respondents stated that the proposed cycleway improvements would encourage them to start use facilities more. This is compared with 24.7% who said it would not, and 4.6% who were unsure.

Will a new cycleway along the A435 from Honeybourne Line to Racecourse Roundabout benefit the local community?

64% of the respondents felt that the cycleway would be beneficial to the local community, however 27% disagreed with this statement, 9% were unsure.

Other responses

  • A high number of respondents (63.7% compared to 30.7%), felt that the new cycleway would make it a better place to live, by improving the environment, air quality and tackling climate change.
  • A large proportion of respondents (70.7% compared to 23.3%) felt that the new cycleway would enable people to improve their fitness and health.
  • A higher number of respondents (60% compared to 27.4%) felt that the new cycleway would help support good mental health for people nearby. 12.6% were unsure.
  • A similar number of respondents (57.7% compared to 30.7%) felt that the new cycleway would help young people to cycle to school.
  • An encouraging number of respondents (67.6% compared to 28.2%) believed that the new cycleway would provide an alternative to driving a car for some trips.
  • A higher number of respondents (56.7% compared to 30%) felt that the new cycleway would help people without a car to access jobs and training opportunities.

Section 2 - Cheltenham Racecourse Roundabout to GE Aviation Roundabout, Bishop's Cleeve

The public engagement ran between 25 January and 7 March 2024. It consisted of a combination of public event and online survey.  

The public engagement event was held on 25 January 2024 at Cheltenham Tigers Rugby Club in Southam and included a display of scheme information. The project team was also present to answer questions about the scheme.  

Participation and demographics 

A total of 260 people engaged with the public consultation and participated in the survey. 

35.9% of responses were received from local residents who live near the scheme, but don’t currently cycle or walk the route. 19.8% respondents were local residents who live near the scheme and cycle the route. 10.1% of responses were received from local residents who walk the route and 9.3% from those who cycle or/and walk the route. Non-local residents who don’t currently walk or cycle the route represented 9.3%. Non-local residents who cycle the route represented 6.3% and 4.8% fell into other respondents, such as businesses and local employees who either walk/cycle or don’t walk/cycle the route. 

Of these, a higher proportion of respondents were male 60.3% compared to female 29.7%. 10% of respondents preferred not to say.  

Most respondents fell into 55-64 age category (21.8%), followed by 65-74 (17.6%), 45-54 category (15.5%), 35-44 (13.4%) and 25-34 (12.1%). There was a lower response rate at the opposite end of spectrum – 75 or older (7.1%) and 18-24 (1.7%). 10.9% of respondents preferred not to reveal their age.   

Views on the existing facilities, their current usage and on the intended use.  

Most respondents are either very dissatisfied 33.7% or dissatisfied 27.6% with the current route, including space layout and space available for cyclists and pedestrians between Racecourse Roundabout and Bishop’s Cleeve compared to satisfied 24.3% or very satisfied 14.4%. 

29% of respondents currently walk or cycle through Cheltenham Racecourse and 27.9% cycle in the road (on the A435 Evesham Road). 23.5% of respondents selected ‘other option’ which consisted of not using the route at all, only by car or public transport; a combination of existing path/road and through Racecourse, or not cycling at all as considering the route unsafe. 19.7% of respondents walk or cycle on the existing pavement.  

When the new facilities are built 51.7% of respondents plan to walk or cycle on the new cycleway/footway, 25.2% or respondents selected other (comments included will not use it, continue to drive, use public transport). 13.9% plan to walk/cycle through Cheltenham Racecourse and 9.1% will continue cycling in the road.  

55.3% of respondents felt that the new cycleway will give people more confidence to start cycling. 34.8% didn’t agree with this statement and 9.8% were unsure.   

Overview of responses 

Do you think the cycleway and footway improvements from Cheltenham to Bishop’s Cleeve will be beneficial to the local community? 

53.3% of respondents provided a positive answer, 35.4% felt that it will not benefit the community and 11.4% were unsure.  

Do you own a bicycle (or e-bike) at the moment? 

A high proportion of the respondents (74.6%) stated that they own a bicycle, compared with 25.4% who do not. 15.3% of respondents who answered that they do not own a bike are considering getting one. 

Would high quality and safe pedestrian and cycle infrastructure encourage you to cycle and/or walk more often? 

52.8% of respondents stated that the proposed cycleway improvements would encourage them to start use facilities more. This is compared with 36.6% who said it would not, and 8.6% who were unsure. 

Cycling ability and confidence. 

Over half of the respondents (58.8%) consider themselves being confident cyclists – they cycle for fun or commute to work on a bike. 16.8% of respondents can ride the bike but are not very confident. 2.1% are a complete beginner. 2.9% cannot ride a bike. 9.2% or respondents selected other (i.e. don’t like cycling, racing cycle races and triathlons, being too old, don’t cycle anymore as don’t feel safe) and 10.1% selected that the question is not applicable.  

However, 69.9% of respondents believe that more people should take up cycling. A small proportion (30.1%) did not agree. 

Other responses 

  • A higher number of respondents (50.4%) felt that the new cycleway would make it a better place to live, by improving the environment, air quality and tackling climate change, 42.3% disagreed and 7.3% were unsure.  

  • A high proportion of respondents (66.8%) felt the new cycleway will make cycling feel safer and more convenient, 27.5% disagreed and 5.7% were unsure.  

  • A high number of respondents (62.8%) agreed that the new footway will make walking feel safer. 28.3% felt the opposite and 8.9% were unsure.  

  • Over the half of respondents (57.2%) believed that the new cycleway will enable people to improve their fitness and health. 35.4% of respondents were of the opposite opinion and 7.4% didn’t know.  

  • Some respondents (50.4%) agreed that the new cycleway will help support good mental health for people nearby. 31.6% didn’t agree and 11.5% were unsure.  

  • A higher proportion of respondents (56.4%) felt that the new cycleway and footway will help people to cycle or walk to work or schools and University campuses. In contrary 33.3% disagreed and 10.3% were unsure.  

  • A higher number of respondents (59.9%) felt that the new cycleway will provide an alternative to driving a car for some trips. 35.7% didn’t feel this way and 4.5% didn’t know. 

  • Most respondents (54.3%) believed that the new cycleway will help people without a car to access jobs and training opportunities. 32.2% didn’t share this opinion and 13.5% were unsure.  

 

Participation and demographics 

A total of 260 people engaged with the public consultation and participated in the survey. 

35.9% of responses were received from local residents who live near the scheme, but don’t currently cycle or walk the route. 19.8% respondents were local residents who live near the scheme and cycle the route. 10.1% of responses were received from local residents who walk the route and 9.3% from those who cycle or/and walk the route. Non-local residents who don’t currently walk or cycle the route represented 9.3%. Non-local residents who cycle the route represented 6.3% and 4.8% fell into other respondents, such as businesses and local employees who either walk/cycle or don’t walk/cycle the route. 

Of these, a higher proportion of respondents were male 60.3% compared to female 29.7%. 10% of respondents preferred not to say.  

Most respondents fell into 55-64 age category (21.8%), followed by 65-74 (17.6%), 45-54 category (15.5%), 35-44 (13.4%) and 25-34 (12.1%). There was a lower response rate at the opposite end of spectrum – 75 or older (7.1%) and 18-24 (1.7%). 10.9% of respondents preferred not to reveal their age.   

Views on the existing facilities, their current usage and on the intended use.  

Most respondents are either very dissatisfied 33.7% or dissatisfied 27.6% with the current route, including space layout and space available for cyclists and pedestrians between Racecourse Roundabout and Bishop’s Cleeve compared to satisfied 24.3% or very satisfied 14.4%. 

29% of respondents currently walk or cycle through Cheltenham Racecourse and 27.9% cycle in the road (on the A435 Evesham Road). 23.5% of respondents selected ‘other option’ which consisted of not using the route at all, only by car or public transport; a combination of existing path/road and through Racecourse, or not cycling at all as considering the route unsafe. 19.7% of respondents walk or cycle on the existing pavement.  

When the new facilities are built 51.7% of respondents plan to walk or cycle on the new cycleway/footway, 25.2% or respondents selected other (comments included will not use it, continue to drive, use public transport). 13.9% plan to walk/cycle through Cheltenham Racecourse and 9.1% will continue cycling in the road.  

55.3% of respondents felt that the new cycleway will give people more confidence to start cycling. 34.8% didn’t agree with this statement and 9.8% were unsure.   

Overview of responses 

Do you think the cycleway and footway improvements from Cheltenham to Bishop’s Cleeve will be beneficial to the local community? 

53.3% of respondents provided a positive answer, 35.4% felt that it will not benefit the community and 11.4% were unsure.  

Do you own a bicycle (or e-bike) at the moment? 

A high proportion of the respondents (74.6%) stated that they own a bicycle, compared with 25.4% who do not. 15.3% of respondents who answered that they do not own a bike are considering getting one. 

Would high quality and safe pedestrian and cycle infrastructure encourage you to cycle and/or walk more often? 

52.8% of respondents stated that the proposed cycleway improvements would encourage them to start use facilities more. This is compared with 36.6% who said it would not, and 8.6% who were unsure. 

Cycling ability and confidence. 

Over half of the respondents (58.8%) consider themselves being confident cyclists – they cycle for fun or commute to work on a bike. 16.8% of respondents can ride the bike but are not very confident. 2.1% are a complete beginner. 2.9% cannot ride a bike. 9.2% or respondents selected other (i.e. don’t like cycling, racing cycle races and triathlons, being too old, don’t cycle anymore as don’t feel safe) and 10.1% selected that the question is not applicable.  

However, 69.9% of respondents believe that more people should take up cycling. A small proportion (30.1%) did not agree. 

Other responses 

  • A higher number of respondents (50.4%) felt that the new cycleway would make it a better place to live, by improving the environment, air quality and tackling climate change, 42.3% disagreed and 7.3% were unsure.  

  • A high proportion of respondents (66.8%) felt the new cycleway will make cycling feel safer and more convenient, 27.5% disagreed and 5.7% were unsure.  

  • A high number of respondents (62.8%) agreed that the new footway will make walking feel safer. 28.3% felt the opposite and 8.9% were unsure.  

  • Over the half of respondents (57.2%) believed that the new cycleway will enable people to improve their fitness and health. 35.4% of respondents were of the opposite opinion and 7.4% didn’t know.  

  • Some respondents (50.4%) agreed that the new cycleway will help support good mental health for people nearby. 31.6% didn’t agree and 11.5% were unsure.  

  • A higher proportion of respondents (56.4%) felt that the new cycleway and footway will help people to cycle or walk to work or schools and University campuses. In contrary 33.3% disagreed and 10.3% were unsure.  

  • A higher number of respondents (59.9%) felt that the new cycleway will provide an alternative to driving a car for some trips. 35.7% didn’t feel this way and 4.5% didn’t know. 

  • Most respondents (54.3%) believed that the new cycleway will help people without a car to access jobs and training opportunities. 32.2% didn’t share this opinion and 13.5% were unsure.