The funding boost of over £450,000 from the government’s Active Travel Fund which will pay for improvements to a stretch of the cycle path between Airport Service Road and Burrfields Road. These improvements will be Phase 1 of the scheme.
Eastern Road is an essential route used by a vast number of people for a variety of reasons. This makes them the best people to share their opinions on how we could improve the walking and cycling route along Eastern Road. The improvements will offer people a more attractive alternative to travelling by motor vehicle. This would benefit peoples’ health and create less air pollution.
The council carried out an opinion survey in late January/early February 2021. The feedback gathered allowed us to gain an understanding of people’s opinions of the Eastern Road cycling and walking route. This will help inform future funding bids as opportunities arise over the coming years.
Share your feedback on specific locations by visiting Widenmypath
First stage of improvement works
Over the next few years, the plan is to make Eastern Road a more attractive, pleasant and safer route for walking and cycling. This stage of activity, funded by government’s Active Travel Fund, was completed in early February 2022 and included:
- widening the path but not into the road
- relocating the streetlights to the side of the path
This work did not impact on the width of the road.
We hope that these improvements will offer people a more attractive, safe alternative to travelling by motor vehicle. Choosing to walk or cycle creates less air pollution than travelling by car, and benefits health and wellbeing.
The next stage of improvements will focus on the section of cycle path that runs alongside Harbourside Caravan Park and is due to take place later in 2022. This is proposed to include further path widening towards the sea without impacting the road.
In 2020, during the first lockdown due to the pandemic, we considered introducing a temporary cycle lane when traffic movement was low. These plans were dropped once traffic increased following lifting of travel restrictions. During any works to make improvements to the cycle path we may need to temporarily close a lane so that work can be carried out safely.
We intend to preserve the natural balance of the area and protect any wildlife habitats whilst creating improvements for people using this route. If any bushes need to be removed, we will work within environmental restraints to ensure that this work is done outside bird nesting season and this will be balanced with replanting where possible.
The council is also engaging key stakeholders in their plans to co-develop them with all users of this route, as well as those located along the road and in the surrounding area.
For further information about this phase and engagement activity, view this summary.
