More than £1 million being spent to connect two villages in East Cambridgeshire
People will be able to walk, cycle and ride a horse through the two villages
Just over £1 million will be spent on creating a route to walk, cycle or ride a horse between Soham and Wicken.
Cambridgeshire County Council has agreed to progress plans for the project accepting the £1.13million from Soham Town Council to design and build the route.
The scheme aims to widen and improve the surfaces of existing byways and a bridleway, in order to create one connected route between the town and the village.
Soham Town Council was awarded funding for the project from East Cambridgeshire District Council and the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, which it has now provided to the county council for it to undertake the project.
A report presented to the county council’s highways and transport committee meeting this week (October 3), said: “It has been a long-established desire of Soham Town Council to improve the non-motorised user links between Soham and Wicken.
“A route has been identified during a previous feasibility study that found if a number of byways and bridleways could be improved it would be possible to make these an attractive route for all non-motorised users, including pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians.
“Where possible the intention is to cut back vegetation so that the maximum width possible can be provided but within the extents of the existing highways.
“A path width of three-metres will be maintained for pedestrians and cyclists to share.
“A separate equestrian path will also be provided with a minimum width of 1.5metres and being wider where possible within the extents of the existing highways.”
Work on the final design is expected to continue, with the authority hoping to begin looking for a company to undertake the work in January 2024.
The county council has said it expects the new route to be completed by July 2024.
Concerns were raised by the cycling campaign group CamCycle about the proposed surfacing and whether it would be usable for some cyclists.
Officers explained that the surfacing would be looked at more in the design stage, but explained the surfacing choice had to take into account the needs of all those using the pathway, including horse riders who needed a softer surface.
Councillor Bill Hunt said he was “absolutely delighted” at the plans and said he gave them his “enthusiastic support”.
He said he had been trying to help “nudge” the plans along for the last six years, and that the new route would have “huge benefits for the local community”.
Councillor Neil Shailer said he supported the project adding that each individual plan to improve infrastructure for cycling and walking would together “enhance the entire offering”.