Plans to improve access from Bathampton and Batheaston to Bath city centre for walkers and people who ride bicycles have been announced by Bath & North East Somerset Council.
The new route will allow people to travel to and beyond the existing footpath which currently leads to the A46 to Grosvenor Bridge East, Bath. It will also be connected to National Cycle Route 3. Money recently awarded to the Council through the Government’s Sustainable Transport fund will be used to complete the project which is anticipated to start Summer 2012.
Councillor Roger Symonds (Lib-Dem, Combe Down), Cabinet Member for Transport, said, “This proposed new walking and cycling route connecting residents in Batheaston and Bathampton with the city centre represents a significant improvement by Bath & North East Somerset Council to our transport network.
“The route will also provide convenient access to potentially thousands of people living north east of Bath to the National Cycle Network. Ultimately, the Council wants to encourage more people to use more sustainable forms of transport other than the private car.”
The new path will be between the centre of Batheaston and the National Cycle Network 3 consisting of a bridge across the River Avon and a 3 metre wide path following the river across Council owned fields to link to Mill Lane, to Bathampton to join the NCN 3 on the Kennet and Avon canal towpath.
The Council will be working closely with Batheaston Parish Council to benefit from their local knowledge and to ensure that the cycle path fits with the Parish Plan.
Transport Minister Norman Baker MP recently announced the 37 local authorities benefiting from Government funding. He added, “All the winning schemes have one thing in common – they will help build strong local economies while addressing the urgent challenge of climate change.
“We have empowered local authorities to create packages of sustainable initiatives that are tailored for their local areas, and this is only the beginning – even more funding will be announced next summer following a second round of bids.”
The West of England has also been short listed for £25 million towards sustainable travel by the Government for its TravelWEST proposals which aim to promote low carbon commuting, active and sustainable communities, and transitions to a low-carbon lifestyle.
The Sustainable Transport Fund money will also be used locally to promote the use of key cycling and public transport routes, work with local businesses to develop travel plans to encourage sustainable staff travel, and a better network of cycle parking at businesses.