On 30th April 2016 over 80 cyclists, walkers and runners met for the
third annual Catha’s Seat Picnic on National Cycle Route 18 near Chilham. Whilst
eating their lunches at this peaceful, rural spot the gathered were treated
to music from fantastic local 9-piece band Ashford Folk Community and witnessed
the launch of the Catha’s Seat Cycling Awards; a grant scheme with fund of £500
open to local groups, schools and individuals to support projects that
encourage safety and increased use of Route 18 between Ashford and Canterbury.
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| Cyclists set off from Wye to the 3rd Annual Catha's Seat Picnic |
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| Ashford Folk Community entertain the picnickers |
Patrick Keegan, Awards Officer for
the Catha’s Seat Group, launched the awards scheme, encouraging local community
groups, schools and individuals to register their interest and submit ideas via
the website www.cathas-seat.org/awards by 31st
May 2016. During his address, he recognised the huge contribution - over many years -
of the numerous local campaigners and organisations (including Spokes and
Sustrans) that have pushed to make, so far, nearly half of this 17-mile section
of route 18 ‘traffic free’, at the same time extending gratitude to the landowners
and local authorities. He restated national cycling charity Sustrans’ original
goal that these routes should offer the safety levels needed to allow school
children and their parents, also commuters, to feel comfortable using it daily
for sustainable and healthy transport.
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| Patrick Keegan launches the Catha's Seat Cycling Awards |
With the back roads in the area becoming
busier and more dangerous Patrick set out the vision that everyone should
continue pushing to make route 18 between Ashford and Canterbury 100% ‘traffic
free’. He was keen to receive ideas towards these safety goals but also
highlighted other examples for the awards to encourage use, such as parent /
child cycle events or organisations that provide specialist equipment and
training for the disabled to use the route.
Earlier in the day, Patrick and
fellow Catha’s Seat Group member Jane Blatt started the Group’s own safety
campaign on the roads out of Wye by alerting motorists to the fact they were on
a national cycle route, and thanking them for driving carefully. Of the 20 cars
that stopped to chat, very few were aware they were on a cycle route, and
agreed that a ‘traffic free’ alternative should be sought, but in the meantime
better signage and awareness raising was imperative.
Awards winners will be announced in
September this year and mark your calendars for next year’s picnic on 29th
April 2017 where their achievements will be showcased. www.cathas-seat.org will have all the details and you can register on the
website to receive updates directly to your email inbox.
If you can’t wait that long then why
not plan a picnic of your own – just type “Catha’s Seat” into Google Maps to
find a route.
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| Patrick Keegan and Jane Blatt alert motorists in Wye that they are driving on National Cycle Route 18 |
About Catha’s Seat:
Catha’s Seat is named
after Catharine 'Catha' Keegan, a dedicated cycling campaigner who lived in Wye
and who was involved in planning the Ashford to Canterbury section of National
Cycle Route 18 before sadly passing away in 1998. Her mission was to create
safer cycling routes and encourage their use, so Catha's Seat and the annual
picnic provide opportunities for everyone to discover or re-discover this route
as well as the joys of cycling and walking in the glorious Kentish countryside.
Catha’s Seat was developed
by her son Nick and husband Patrick, and has been supported by Kent County
Council, Ashford Borough Council, Godmersham Parish Council, Chilham Parish
Council, Councillor Andrew Wickham and over 70 private donors. Catha’s Seat was
built by ARC Creative Design.
