A NEW segregated cycleway for Brighton Hill after the country council gave it the go ahead.

Hampshire County Council submitted a bid for nearly £3.5 million from the government to fund the cycle way and other transport schemes in August 2020.

At the time, Basingstoke Labour group leader, Cllr Andy McCormick, who represents Brighton Hill South, labelled the announcement as "excellent".

"We have been asking for it on and off for quite some time, it is long overdue" he told The Gazette.

This week, HCC has given the go ahead to create a new cycle track along Brighton Way.

Councillor Rob Humby, deputy leader of hampshire county council and executive member for economy, transport and environment, approved the scheme at his recent decision day.

He said: “After a month-long consultation we have listened to the feedback and I am pleased that the overwhelming majority of people that took part in our survey wanted this new cycle route and as such we are investing in cycling in Basingstoke.

"The Coronavirus pandemic has changed the way we travel, and many people are cycling and walking more. This is a critical time to make changes to our roads to support a prosperous, healthy and green recovery from Covid-19 - making it easier for everyone, whatever their abilities, to sustain healthier lifestyles, while helping to meet the County Council’s carbon reduction targets as part of our Climate Change Strategy.”

The scheme will be funded through developer contributions and Hampshire County Council’s successful bid to the Government’s Active Travel Fund, amounting to £3.28 million awarded for a range of measures to create better spaces for walking and cycling in local communities across Hampshire.

The new fully segregated cycle route between Brighton Hill Roundabout and Sullivan Road will link directly into the cycle routes that will be comprehensively provided through Brighton Hill Roundabout as part of the planned improvement scheme there.

The £551,202 cycle track has been designed in accordance with the latest cycle infrastructure design guidance, which aims to provide higher quality cycle routes that will be safer and attractive to use.

The consultation ran from January 25 to February 22 2021. There were a total of 114 responses.

Of those responses, 64 per cent of respondents were in favour of the Brighton Way cycle route, 15 per cent of respondents were not in favour of the scheme and the remaining 21 per cent were unsure.

For more information visit: https://www.hants.gov.uk/transport/transportschemes/hantscovidtravel