Councils plan major investment in improved cycling and walking routes

Plans for major investment to improve walking and cycling facilities on a route into Leicester city centre have been announced.

The local councils plan to jointly invest around £1.2m in a range of improvements to create a safer and more attractive route for pedestrians and cyclists linking New Lubbesthorpe, in Thorpe Astley, and nearby Meridian Leisure Park, in Blaby, with Leicester city centre.

The proposed scheme will involve widening and improving footpaths, creating safer crossings at key junctions, and building new paths to link to existing footways and cycle tracks.

The City Council also proposes to make existing pop-up cycle routes permanent.

The new works will be delivered by Leicester City Council as part of its Transforming Cities Fund programme, working in partnership with Leicestershire County Council, Blaby District Council and Braunstone Town Council.

The scheme will be backed by over £500,000 of funding from the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP) through the Leicester and Leicestershire Business Rates Pool fund.

Leicester City Council has also been successful in securing an additional £450,000 of Department for Transport cash through Sustrans Paths for Everyone programme to help improve the National Cycle Network.

Deputy City Mayor Cllr Adam Clarke, who leads on environment and transport, said: ‘For the city to grow sustainably, it is essential that we provide the infrastructure to help people make the shift to more sustainable and active forms of transport for their shorter journeys. By making routes safer for pedestrians and cyclists, we are enabling more people to leave the car at home and choose cleaner, greener and cheaper ways of getting about.

‘I am really pleased that we are able to work with our partners in the county to provide this valuable new route for cyclists and pedestrians within the city boundary and the wider urban area.’

Photo by Jamie Hunt