CYCLISTS wanting to avoid busy roads from Wichelstowe into the town centre will soon have a fully upgraded route.

Plans have been announced to improve the ‘Southern Flyer’, which starts at Waitrose and finishes on Farnsby Street.

Swindon Travel Choices is behind the upgrade and is aiming to make the route more attractive to cyclists so hopefully more people will swap their cars for bikes.

The move follows a successful implementation of another route, which has seen an increase in uptake.

Claire Fleming, a travel planning officer, said: “Last year we developed the Western Flyer, running into the town centre from West Swindon, which proved extremely popular with people.

“We think this is a very good route. I think the most important thing is that it does not involve going on roads.”

Although parts of East Wichel have been developed, more than 3,500 homes are to be built in the Wichelstowe area in the coming years so Swindon Travel Choices wants the flyer in place before people move in.

While the route already exists there is much work planned to make it more attractive. Wayfinding plinths will be put in various spots to offer directions and more waste bins will be installed.

Part of the route also runs along the old canal so LED lighting will be installed and new trees will be planted along the grass verge. Some of the old metal railings will be removed to be replaced with wooden ones and some of the bollards will also be removed.

Wootton Bassett Road and other routes that lead into the town centre often get very congested during rush hour so it is hoped this problem can be eased by the changes.

Details of the route outlining the changes can be found at facebook.com/Swindontravelchoices

Claire said: “We approach this from an angle of reducing congestion of the road but there are other benefits.

“Obviously it is much healthier so it improves people’s fitness.

“Hopefully we will also see a drop in the volume of cars on the roads.”