*** Before I post the main body of text here. At the recent park meeting a council employee was asked by a mother. "How does my child play Pooh Sticks now?" The bridges of course becoming part of the cycle route. The, not so helpful, reply was that before going to the park "you should risk assess your child and decide if the risk is worth it?"
In other words "Your child is no longer important here, the cyclist comes first in our assessment of risk and your child is an unnecessary obstacle. Bring your child to the park now at your own risk."
According to the highway code pedestrians come FIRST so I found this response disgusting. If other parents do too please sign this petition.

Let's turn that around. As the pedestrian is, in theory, the most important person in the traffic hierarchy surely the onus should be on the cyclist to risk assess "Is the park a safe environment to cycle in as children and disabled will be present?" The answer is of course, no! ***

This is the full planned route for the "shared" cycle path running from central Silverhill down to Queens Road via the park.

This is marked in green. The alternative, alleged, "bike free" route (which isn't bike free at all as you are forced to cross the shared paths) is marked in yellow

If use the term "shared" lightly because, make no mistake, it isn't designed to be a shared path. In fact if you read most of the documents published by ESCC you will find that they regularly "slip up" and forget to insert the word shared.

At a maximum 3m wide (a full 1m less than the recommended minimum width) this is barely wide enough to be a cycle path alone, let alone to handle pedestrians, families, groups, disabled , runners etc. However it is to be designated two way shared cycle path and we are expected to accept this.

Those of you familiar with the park take a good look at where it runs. Think about the steep climbs in the wooded areas in the upper park, the areas which will be dark and secluded. Walking alone, will you feel safe knowing the speed which bikes will be doing down those slopes? They already both cycle and e-scooter down those slopes now. Easily hitting 25-30mph and not worrying about anyone in their way.

Think about the winding path through the trees, the blind corners. It is said there will be tree felling and cutting back to aid visibility. Utter rubbish, nothing could make that route safe and how does it respect a Grade II listed park anyway reaching for the chainsaw at every opportunity? Think about the disturbance to wildlife throughout the wooded area. 

Where is the respect for the environment the concern over global warming? Are HBC/ESCC living in a different world than the rest of us. Much of that upper park route is just bare ground right now. Imagine the CO2 emissions and destruction that's going to happen as new path is laid.

So, in the upper park the "shared" path emerges from the trees down a very sleep, dangerous slope to the area by the park greenhouse. It then passes on the St Helens Road side of the Peace Garden and memorial rose gardens. Places of peace, beauty and reflection. Shortly to become nothing more than a two wheeled vehicle bypass. So much for respecting the bereaved, the dead, the peace and even the park itself. The sponsors of the memorial benches must be horrified that their special place to sit and reflect is shortly to become a view of cycles whizzing past all day long. This applies the whole length of the cycle path. Special places which were chosen by the bereaved ruined by bikes all day long.

The route then continues past the busy sports area. This has a heavy foot flow and high usage by mobility carriages for the disabled. There is little room for manoeuvre now , let alone if it becomes an official shared path. 

The "shared path then crosses Dordrecht Way before entering the lower park where it passes right in front of the toilets (clearly designed by an idiot with no consideration of the elderly/disabled). It then veers right past the bandstand. The lawns on both sides here aren't huge and are packed in the summer with families having picnics and playing. The littluns like to run around this flatter area of lawn.

A severe injury, or worse, to a young child is very likely in this area and when it happens our local authorities and cycle groups only have themselves to blame .

The cycle route the moves on through the sloped tree area where dogs like to chase squirrels and kids like to feed them. With the café so close and trees here which are popular for kids to climb on this really is a ridiculous gamble on public safety.

Continuing on it passes the large pond where families stand to feed the ducks, literally a few feet away. It then goes past the disused bowling green before going left through the middle of the two smaller ponds , once again within feet of a duck feeding area. Finally it turns right and we are now back on the side of St Helens Road passing the old boating lake and ruining the view of many more memorial benches before leaving via Bethune Way.

And that's it no lane markings, just one 3m wide path catering for those of all abilities.

As for the (yellow) pedestrian routes well they are just a joke. Because these are meant to be for the elderly and disabled yet they have steps, the worst slopes (dreadful for those with mobility issues), awkward undulating sections, the need to still cross the cycle paths both to continue walking and to access the toilet.

Essentially the plan here is quite evident. "Give the cyclist the easy, fast route. As for the 'dregs' of route subsequently left well just class that as pedestrian path they'll just have to lump it."