A PROPOSAL for a £3.5m cycle and pedestrian route between Royal Wootton Bassett and Swindon is a little closer – seven years after the idea was first discussed.

Wiltshire Council, Swindon Borough Council, Sustrans and Highways Agency are currently working on the scheme.

And following a community consultation, a preferred route has now been chosen.

The 3km path will include a segregated section alongside the A3102 to the east of Wootton Bassett, an off-road section from Sally Pussey’s Inn to Windmill Hill in Swindon and a new crossing point on the A3102 to the east of the town.

 

After undertaking both feasibility and design work, Wiltshire Council has secured funds.

The cost for the new cycle way will mostly be funded by Highways England.

It is hoped that the route will be delivered by 2021 but the project might take longer according to Wiltshire councillor Allison Bucknell, who chairs the Wootton Bassett and Cricklade area board.

The project still needs the support of landowners and planning approval is needed to deliver, but negotiations on access to some areas of land are continuing.

“I guess this could take approximately two years before they decide all the agreements and five years for the project to be done,” said Coun Bucknell.

“Unfortunately, it’s not a priority for anybody, and they’ll get the project done when people will have time to work on it.”

The proposal gained traction as a result of growing congestion at Junction 16 of the M4. According to Wiltshire Council, the new cycle way would encourage people to travel sustainably, saving hundreds of thousands of motor vehicle trips across Junction 16 each year as well as reducing carbon emissions and improving people’s health.

When first revealed, the plans were welcomed by local people and over the years they have urged the council to provide updates.

One of the main reasons for support was road safety. One rider described cycling the A3102 past Sally Pussey’s towards Wootton Bassett as “a bit hairy”.