COMMUTERS could be pedalling their way into work as early as next spring if a proposal for a new cycle route is given the green light.

Swindon Borough Council has unveiled plans for a new shared use pedestrian-cycle route for the eastern side of the town following the success of the town’s Southern and Western Flyer cycle routes.

The 3.5-metre wide route is proposed to run along the full length of the verge on the northern side of Covingham Drive, a distance of 700 metres, and will form part of the new Eastern Flyer which will link the New Eastern Villages development with Swindon town centre.

The route would link into the wider Swindon cycle-pedestrian network by providing a connection between the existing off-road cycle-pedestrian network between Dorcan Way and Merlin Way.

Funding for the scheme has come from the Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership as part of the Local Growth Fund. This marks the second year of a three-year programme to improve cycle and pedestrian paths.

The proposed route requires planning permission as it passes through an area of public open space, while it also needs to be approved by the Environment Agency, due to previous incidents of flooding in the local area. If approved, the scheme could be completed by the end of March 2017.

Yesterday a public exhibition was staged at the Coleview Community Centre, where transport project manager Lynsey Brookfield said they had received positive feedback from the residents who had come to view the proposal.

She said: “Cycling is a sustainable form of transport and the hope is that if we create a safe environment for cyclists more people will be encouraged to jump on their bikes and think twice about taking the car.

“Hopefully it will relieve some of the pressure on the existing network where there is congestion, and it may turn out to be faster for people to cycle into town than sit in traffic.”

Councillor Dale Heenan, (Con, Covingham and Dorcan) Swindon Borough Council’s cabinet member for sustainability, transport and highways, said: “Over the last couple of years, cycle paths have been improved in West Swindon and South Swindon to encourage more cycling into the town centre. These clearly signed routes are well used and already showing their value.

“Our attention is now turning to creating a similar Eastern Flyer from the White Hart roundabout to the town centre. This £1.25m project will create a new cycle path and footpath along the north side of Covingham Drive, and see improvements to Queens Drive, Drove Road, Garrard Way, Drakes Way, Marlow Avenue and Swindon Road, along with better lighting and CCTV.

“Swindon is two years into its five-year road improvement programme to tackle congestion, but it is important we do not forget walking and cycling.

"By creating the Eastern Flyer now before new housing is built local residents can be encouraged to leave their car at home and walk or cycle to locations such as the new shopping district centre, Greenbridge or the town centre.

“Council officers are already liaising with the Environment Agency to discuss flood risk and ensure that this route is fit for purpose.”