Opening the Gates: New Cycle Access to Brentwood High Street

Imagine riding your bike into Brentwood High Street without wrestling with busy junctions or dangerous corners. That’s exactly what our campaign is pushing for — safe and direct cycle access from William Hunter Way and Crown Street, avoiding tricky spots like Wilson’s Corner and King’s Road.

What’s Already In Policy

• William Hunter Way Car Park is identified in Brentwood’s Local Plan as a key town centre opportunity site, with specifics that new development should “consider pedestrian and cycle connections”.
  
• Policy PC09 of the Local Plan shows that development proposals in the Town Centre area (including William Hunter Way / Crown Street) should enhance links for walking and cycling around the High Street.
  
• Also relevant is Policy CP5 (William Hunter Way) from the “Preferred Options” version of the Local Plan, which emphasises improving the character of William Hunter Way, public realm, and encouraging pedestrian/cycle linkages to enhance High Street access.

Our Work + What We’ve Been Doing

• We have been working closely with the FCRB forum to highlight the need for safer cycle entry points into the High Street via William Hunter Way and Crown Street.
• We’ve identified the junctions at Wilson’s Corner and King’s Road as particularly unfriendly to cyclists, both in terms of safety and traffic volume.
• We support the improvements being made: new cycle parking installed by the council (BBC), better public realm, and pushing for route design that avoids dangerous crossing points.

Why This Access Matters

• Safety & Comfort: Avoiding high-traffic junctions and busy roads means more people feel confident riding in town — families, less experienced cyclists, those who dislike traffic.
• Utility: Providing access from both the north and south opens up more convenient routes for people coming from different neighbourhoods.
• Green, Healthy Transport: Better cycle access means fewer short car journeys, leading to cleaner air, healthier travel options, and supporting local shops.
• Economic & Community Benefit: More cycling footfall helps retailers, and safer, more attractive walking/cycling routes enhance the local environment and community wellbeing.

What’s Next — How the Route Can Move Forward

• Push for detailed routing proposals showing safe, cycle-friendly paths from William Hunter Way and Crown Street, including new signage, surface improvements, and traffic calming at junctions.
• Monitor and engage with the evolving Local Plan policies, especially any future drafts that address town-centre connectivity.
• Advocate for improved crossings at Wilson’s Corner & King’s Road, or alternative routing that reduces cyclist exposure to dangerous points.
• Use the installed cycle parking to demonstrate demand and bolster the case for linking routes.

How You Can Help

• Use the existing cycle parking if you can. Show local need.
• Share memories or stories of times when cycling access felt unsafe or frustrating. These help with advocacy.
• Keep an eye on public consultations or local planning proposals. Submit comments if you find proposals lacking cycle access.