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Sandy High Street Guide

B1042 High Street, Sandy, Bedfordshire, SG19 1AG

Access Guide

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Introduction

  • Sandy High Street is in the town centre of Sandy.
  • The A1 London Road is approximately 0.2 mile away.
  • This guide covers the main shopping area of Sandy High Street.
  • This guide runs between the junction/roundabout of St Neots Road, Bedford Road, Sunderland Road and High Street on the northern end and the junction of St Swithun's Way, Ivel Road and High Street on the southern end.
  • The route is approximately 0.3 mile (484 metres) and takes approximately 6-8 minutes to walk.
  • The shopping area is on both sides of the road and there are several easy slopes uphill and downhill at varying points throughout.
  • Pathway surfaces are a mixture of concrete paving slabs, block paving and tarmac.
  • The pathways have some uneven sections, which include some raised manhole covers.
  • The road surfaces are tarmac, with dropped kerbs and tactile paving at most crossing points.
  • There are opportunities to sit and rest.

Getting Here

  • By Car
  • The A1 London Road is approximately 0.2 mile away via Bedford Road.
  • The High Street in Sandy runs north to south through the town centre.
  • At the north end it becomes St Neots Road, Bedford Road and Sunderland Road.
  • At the south end it continues as the High Street until you pass Sandy Station.
  • By Bus
  • There is a main bus stop just off the High Street on Market Square opposite Lloyds Pharmacy. This bus stop has direct services available to Bedford, Biggleswade, Tempsford and Hitchin.
  • By Train
  • Sandy Station is located on Station Road, approximately 0.2 mile from the southern end of the route (High Street).
  • There is step-free access to all platforms at this station via alternate entrances. Platform 1 via Potton Road and Platform 2 via Station Road.
  • There are direct train services available to Stevenage, Hitchin, St Neots, Peterborough, Huntingdon, London St Pancras International, Gatwick Airport and Brighton.

Parking

  • On-Street Parking
  • There are Blue Badge and standard on-street parking bays on the High Street and some surrounding side roads.
  • There is no charge for these parking bays.
  • Parking is limited to 60 minutes and no return within 1 hour for non-Blue Badge holders depending on the parking area.
  • Blue Badge holders may park in any of the bays but must follow the signed instructions on time limits.
  • Photograph 1 shows the Blue Badge parking bay outside Cloves Dental Practice on the High Street.
  • Photographs 2 and 3 show the Blue Badge parking bays on Market Square next to Allders Opticians and Coral Bookmakers.
  • Photographs 4-9 show the standard on-street parking on the High Street and surrounding roads.
  • Public Car Parks
  • There is a public car park just off the High Street and is free for all to use.
  • This car park is opposite Mama’s Coffee Shop.
  • Photographs 10-13 show the car park.

Roundabout/Junction – St Neots Road, Sunderland Road, Bedford Road and High Street

  • There are several crossing points at this junction to cross St Neots Road, Sunderland Road, Bedford Road and the High Street.
  • All the crossings have dropped kerbs and tactile paving on both sides with the exception to the crossing over the High Street which only has dropped kerbs.
  • The surface of the roads is tarmac.
  • The surface of the pathways is tarmac.
  • There is an easy downhill slope leading from the roundabout into the High Street and Sunderland Road.
  • Photographs 2 and 3 show the crossing at Bedford Road.
  • Photographs 4 and 5 show the crossing at St Neots Road.
  • Photographs 6 and 7 show the crossing at Sunderland Road.
  • Photographs 8 and 9 show the crossing at the High Street.

St Neots Road to Market Square via High Street

  • The pathways on both sides of the road in this section are formed of tarmac and block paving.
  • The pathways on both sides are wide.
  • There is a slope running from St Neots Road along the High Street towards the Market Square.
  • There is a raised pathway accessed via ramp/slope or steps which leads to some shops. This area is on the right side of the road if you were coming from St Neots Road towards the Market Square.
  • There is an easy ramp/slope next to Sandy Library and also next to Mayfair Homecare which have handrails on both sides (as shown in photographs 3 and 4).
  • There are 4 steps next to Cloves Dental Practice and 3 steps next to J.C Carpets to reach the same area. These steps are 14cm in height and have a handrail on both sides (shown in photographs 7 and 8).
  • There are some uneven areas on the pathways throughout this section.
  • There are some obstructions along the pavement on both sides such as signs, cash points, railings, bins and signboards.
  • There are some standard parking bays available on the road next to China Express and the Flower Room.
  • These standard parking bays are free for 1 hour and no return within 1 hour.
  • There is a zebra crossing next to Sandy Library to cross the High Street.
  • This crossing has dropped kerbs and tactile paving on both sides.
  • The surface of the road is tarmac at this crossing.
  • Photograph 9 shows this crossing.
  • Photographs 11 and 12 shows a seating area next to the Post Office and close to the Market Square area.

Junction/Crossing – Market Square and High Street

  • There is a crossing point over the Market Square and a crossing point over the car park entrance for the Co-Operative.
  • Both these crossings have dropped kerbs and tactile paving on both sides and there is no direct crossing available over the High Street itself.
  • The surface of the roads is tarmac.
  • The surface of the pathways is a mixture of tarmac and block paving.
  • There is an easy downhill slope leading from the High Street into the Co-Operative car park and an easy uphill slope leading into the Market Square from the High Street.
  • Photographs 1 and 2 show the crossing over the Co-Operative car park entrance.
  • Photograph 3 shows a bench next to the Co-Operative car park entrance.
  • Photographs 4 and 5 show the crossing over Market Square.

Market Square - High Street to Cambridge Road

  • The pathways on both sides of the road in this section are formed of tarmac and block paving.
  • The pathways on both sides are wide but do narrow slightly in some areas as you pass some shops and entrances.
  • There is an easy uphill slope running from the High Street along the Market Square towards Cambridge Road.
  • There are some uneven areas on the pathways throughout this section.
  • There are some obstructions along the pavement on both sides such as signs, bins, cashpoints and signboards.
  • There are some Blue Badge and standard parking bays available on the Market Square opposite Allders Opticians and Gunns Bakery.
  • Photographs 3-5 show examples of the parking. This parking is free and limited to 1 hour and no return within 1 hour.
  • These standard parking bays are free for 1 hour and no return within 1 hour.
  • There are several crossings to cross some side roads and to cross over Market Square along the Market Square.
  • These crossings have tactile paving and dropped kerbs on both sides.
  • The surface of the road at the crossing is tarmac.
  • Photographs 7-9 show these crossings.
  • Photographs 12-14 show some bench seating available on the Market Square next to Britannia Pharmacy.

Market Square to Park Road via High Street

  • The pathways on both sides of the road in this section are formed of tarmac and block paving.
  • The pathways on both sides are wide but do narrow slightly as you pass some shops and signs.
  • There is an easy uphill slope running from the Market Square along the High Street towards the Park Road.
  • There are some uneven areas on the pathways throughout this section.
  • There are some obstructions along the pavement on both sides such as signs, cash points, bins and signboards.
  • There is a pedestrian crossing next to the Co-Operative and Allders Opticians.
  • This pedestrian crossing has dropped kerbs and tactile paving on both sides and has the green and red man symbol to cross the road. The push button is 85cm in height.
  • The surface of the road is tarmac at this crossing.
  • Photographs 4-6 show the pedestrian crossing.

Junction/Crossing – Park Road, Cambridge Road and High Street

  • There is a crossing point over Park Road and a crossing point over Cambridge Road.
  • Both these crossings have dropped kerbs and tactile paving on both sides and there is no direct crossing available over the High Street itself.
  • The surface of the roads is tarmac.
  • The surface of the pathways is a mixture of tarmac and block paving.
  • There is an easy downhill slope leading from the High Street into Cambridge Road and an easy uphill slope leading from the High Street into Park Road.
  • Photographs 2 and 3 show the crossing over Park Road.
  • Photographs 4 and 5 show the crossing over Cambridge Road.

Park Road to Ivel Road via High Street

  • The pathways on both sides of the road in this section are formed of tarmac and block paving.
  • The pathways on both sides are wide but do narrow slightly in some areas as you pass some shops and entrances.
  • There is an easy uphill and downhill slope running from Park Road along the High Street towards the Ivel Road. This slope does become very easy alongside the church and does vary throughout.
  • There are some uneven areas on the pathways throughout this section.
  • There are some obstructions along the pavement on both sides such as signs, bins and signboards.
  • There are some standard parking bays available on the road next to Sandy Church and the Town Fryer Chip Shop.
  • These standard parking bays are free for 1 hour and no return within 1 hour.
  • Photographs 7 and 9 show the standard parking bay on the road by Sandy Church and the Town Fryer Chip Shop.
  • There is a zebra crossing next to All Seasons Boutique and Wood Green Charity Shop to cross the High Street.
  • This crossing has dropped kerbs and tactile paving on both sides.
  • The surface of the road is tarmac at this crossing.
  • Photograph 2 shows this zebra crossing.
  • Photographs 10 and 11 show the crossing over the entrance to a public car park opposite Mama's Coffee Shop on the High Street.
  • This crossing has dropped kerbs and tactile paving on both sides.

Junction/Crossing – Ivel Road, St Swithun’s Way and High Street

  • There is a crossing point over Ivel Road, St Swithun’s Way and the High Street.
  • All of these crossings have dropped kerbs and tactile paving on both sides.
  • The surface of the roads is tarmac.
  • The surface of the pathways is a mixture of tarmac and block paving.
  • There is an easy uphill slope leading from the High Street into St Swithun’s Way and an easy uphill slope leading into the Ivel Road from the High Street.
  • The High Street itself is on an easy slope uphill leading from the junction/crossing.
  • Photograph 1 shows the crossing over the High Street.
  • Photographs 2-4 show the crossing over Ivel Road. This crossing has an island in the middle to break up the journey.
  • Photographs 5 and 6 show the crossing over St Swithun’s Way.
  • Photograph 7 show a bench next to the crossing at Ivel Road.

Access Guides Available For (Sandy High Street)