People who cycle and walk around Bath city centre will benefit from a £1 million investment secured for the Council to revamp the area around Kingsmead Square with new cycling routes and an improved environment.
The Seven Dials Scheme consists of five contra-flow cycle routes, including Monmouth Street, Saw Close, and Lower Borough Walls, that will connect with other cycling existing cycling routes, such as the on road route to Bath Spa Station. A revitalisation of the built environment forms a significant part of the plans.
Councillor Paul Crossley (Lib-Dem, Southdown), Leader of Council, said: “We want to make Bath city centre as easy, convenient, and safe as possible for people who use bicycles as well as those on foot. It is further encouragement for people to use a bike to get commute and get around as we try to break the stranglehold of traffic congestion in the centre.
“This project will connect Kingsmead Square with Bath Spa Station and Green Park Station making it easier for people to cycle between these locations which are all part of the Bath City Enterprise Area. Combined with the vehicle access restrictions we are introducing during the day, these connections will create a city centre which is truly cyclist and pedestrian friendly. People will also see a dramatic improvement in the appearance of this part of the city.
“Better transport links and revitalised built environment are a crucial part of our plans to encourage private sector investment to the city which in turn will create thousands of jobs for local people.”
A programme of works will be developed by the Council and this process will begin immediately. Target completion date is April 2015.
The Government approved the bid for a Cycle Ambition Grant that was put in by the West of England, consisting of Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Councils.
Talking about the total £7.7 million Department for Transport cycling award for the West of England, Colin Skellett, Chair of the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership said: “This funding will make a real difference to cyclists and pedestrians across the West of England, including Bath. It will make commuting and cycling for leisure easier and safer in some of our most popular places.
“We also hope to see it encourage more people to choose cycling and join over 26,000 people who regularly cycle to work across the West of England.”
