Route news: South Tyneside route gets £250,000 funding + Hereford Greenway route consultation opens

South Tyneside Council has secured £250,000 Sustrans Connect2 funding to build a walking and cycling route designed to improve access to National Cycle Network Route 14 near the Port of Tyne in Tyne Dock - a cyclist was killed on the roundabout by the dock entrance last year by a lorry leaving the dock.

The scheme will provide shared off-road cycle and pedestrian pathways leading to a double Toucan crossing the Council is planning to install on the Western Approach.  The crossings – designed for both pedestrians and cyclists – will span both carriageways of the Western Approach between the Port of Tyne and Temple Town roundabouts.

Welcoming the funding announcement Councillor Audrey McMillan, Chair of the Riverside Community Area Forum said:

“The Borough’s cycle network is used by commuters as well as those who want to walk and cycle for fun and these improvements will help our efforts to reduce traffic in the Borough.”

“These improvements are part of a wider road safety scheme around the Port of Tyne roundabout, which will involve the installation of the crossings as well as a part-time traffic signal around 50 metres from the roundabout on the approach into town.”
Meanwhile in Hereford, a consultation period has started on what should be the preferred route for the town's new Greenway - also funded by Connect2 cash.

Three options for the scheme, which will provide a walking and cycling route to connect the city centre and Rotherwas, have been considered.  With initial investigations now concluded, a recommendation has been made to develop the project along the ‘Fisherman’s Car Park Route’.  The greenway will create a much-needed route between the city centre and the major employment area of Rotherwas, incorporating a new non-motorised bridge over the River Wye.

You can see the full report at www.herefordshire.gov.uk and you can give the council your feedback by emailing streets [at] herefordshire.gov.uk or calling 01432 261800.

Sustrans Connect2 was awarded £50m from the Big Lottery fund to spend on local cycling and walking projects after a public vote in 2007, this remains the largest single piece of lottery funding and when combined with match funding from central and local government means that the Connect2 project is worth £142m.