Preparation work for a 2.3km cycleway in Wimborne and Colehill has commenced and marks the start of the first sustainable infrastructure scheme to be built in south east Dorset through Transforming Travel’s £100m+ Transforming Cities Fund.
Dorset Council and BCP Council were one of 12 city regions in England to secure a share of the government’s Transforming Cities Fund based on its commitment to driving economic growth through investment in public sustainable transport.
It forms a major part of the region’s Transforming Travel programme promoting sustainable travel.
A series of walking and cycling improvements are due to start in January and complete in Autumn 2021.
The cycleway will link with existing National Cycle Networks and other proposed Transforming Travel schemes to provide a continuous, attractive network for cyclists wishing to cycle to key destinations in Dorset.
Councillor Ray Bryan, Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment at Dorset Council said: “This exciting and much-needed investment in sustainable infrastructure in Wimborne will transform local travel options, connecting people safely to local jobs and education while also helping to reduce carbon emissions.”
James Cleeton, Director for the south of England at Sustrans, said: “It’s great to see this project moving forwards. Filling this gap on the National Cycle Network will help us to move one step closer to fulfilling our ambition of creating a network of paths that really is for everyone.”