A Day in Burton-upon-Trent

We met at Burton railway station at 10am, the four of us - Shawn Brotherhood, Ed Healey from Sustrans Birmingham Office, Alan Locke and myself.
The purpose was fourfold.
1. To check out the now completed path from the Stretton A38 flyover replacing the ten year old
    diversion through Stretton.
2.To see how this could be joined up with the Trent & Mersey Canal towpath of NCN Route 54.
3.To to check the NCN Route signing in Burton town centre.
4. To take lunch in Mac's Cafe.

Although the new path is a big improvement on the previous one, we were a little disappointed at some of the finishing details.

Left to right, Shawn, Ed and Alan.

 A broad white line has been painted down the middle. This is visually obtrusive and quite unnecessary. It will not separate pedestrians from cyclists as the pedestrians will walk in the cycle path as they usually do.

There are "Cyclists Dismount" signs all over the place, even at the entrances to the path.

The steps at the North end are a major hazard, preventing the passage of wheelchairs, childrens buggies, and anything but lightweight cycles which will no doubt be carried.

View looking Southwards from the top of the steps.

There are tubular steel barriers at both ends, very poorly designed and installed.
So, potentially a nice path, not as good as we had hoped, but certainly a big improvement on what preceded it.
It looks as though, in view of the steps, that a braided alternative road route would be advisable. That would have to use some of the original route of course.


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View looking Northwards from the South end.
Note that cyclists have to dismount on entering the path.

Having completed our tour of Burton, we rode off to Mac's Cafe on Derby Street for lunch. But (calamity!), there was a shortage of some menu items.
However, we managed to find suitable alternatives to our first orders, most notable being the giant bread cob which was placed in front of Alan.
No short measures in Mac's Cafe.