Is it possible to get distance travelled without gps The GPS on my phone KILLS the battery life. If you going on a decent ride which I will be once i have the fitness required, then you'll need a portable battery of some sort.

Is it not possible for a speed and candence sensor to track distance without gps signal? Mine doesn't seem to be working. IT's one of these 

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/topeak-panobike-speed-and-cadence-sensor/?lang=en&amp;curr=GBP&amp;dest=1&amp;sku=5360562630&amp;kpid=5360562630&amp;utm_source=google&amp;utm_term=&amp;utm_campaign=UK_PLA_Accessories&amp;utm_medium=base&amp;utm_content=mkwid|sjqteoBIm_dc|pcrid|67090793462|pkw||pmt||prd|5360562630uk&amp;product_id=5360562630uk

I.e. have I bought something that doesn't do what i need it to do. 

the fallowfield loop isn't 0.06km long
Yes, it is possible, and bike computers have had sensors like yours before GPS existed. Either your sensor is broken, in which case you can have it replaced, or you have installed it wrong.