THERE were mixed emotions at the official opening of a cycle and footpath which was inspired by the death of a young cyclist.

Family and friends of Steve Millington gathered at the end of the Oakley to Basingstoke Multi-User Route at St John’s Church, where the chairman of Hampshire County Council, Councillor Anna McNair Scott cut the ribbon to declare it open.

Steve was just 12-years-old when he was in collision with a car in Pack Lane in January 2007.

The former Cranbourne Business and Enterprise College student spent two days in hospital in a coma but died on January 4 – five days after his birthday.

It was this accident that resulted in Lorna Goodall and Wendy Stretch making it their mission to provide a safe route between Oakley and Basingstoke, rather than the 60mph roads.

Mrs Goodall, a mother-of-two from Hyde Close, Oakley said: “When I was a child, I used to cycle everywhere but I wouldn’t let my son cycle to Basingstoke because there wasn’t a safe route.”

Mrs Stretch, a mother-of-three from The Vale, Oakley added: “Our children knew Steve and were the same age. It could have been one of our children.”

The route, which cost £100,000 to prepare, was paid for using developer contributions and runs from St John’s Road in Oakley to Pack Lane in Basingstoke, totalling 1.4 miles.

Cllr McNair Scott said the path became a reality thanks to the “determination” of Mrs Goodall and Mrs Stretch.

She added: “They felt so strongly that their children should have a safe cycle route because the road is a death-trap.”

Oakley borough councillor Diane Taylor was also involved with the project, which was a joint effort by both the county and borough councils, Manydown Company Limited and Oakley Parish Council.

Steve’s mother Anne Millington was at the opening along with his former friends, who all wore T-shirts bearing his face.

The 52-year-old, from Alexander Road, Basingstoke, said: “I’m a driving instructor and I make sure that everyone I teach knows that when they come to a cyclist they should slow down.

“Steve lost his life and it’s nice to know that no other family will have to go through that loss.”

On the day Steve was knocked down, he was cycling to Oakley Skate Park with a friend.

Steve’s friend, Jake Bennett, 17 from Chineham, added: “It’s finally something good to come out of this.

“There’s no other safe route if you want to go to Oakley. The last time I saw Steve was on his birthday and I remember him saying ‘see you later’ but I never did.”