Work to start on new walking and cycling facility to link Chippenham and Corsham

Wiltshire Council is starting work on a new cycling and walking route between Chippenham and Corsham on Easton Lane. The new facility will create an easy to navigate, low traffic walking and cycling route between the two towns.

Work will start on Monday 21 March and is expected to be completed by May. Easton Lane will be closed to traffic for the duration of the work, and once completed, motor vehicles will be prohibited from the road bridge over the A350. This allows access for farm vehicles at both ends of Easton Lane, but stops through-traffic, making it safer for both pedestrians and cyclists to use the path.

Cllr Dr Mark McClelland, Cabinet Member for Transport, said: This new cycling and walking facility along National Cycle Route 403 offers a safer alternative between the two towns for people that usually cycle along the A4 Bath Road.

We held a public consultation exercise on this scheme, and others within Wiltshire, back in December 2020, and respondents were overwhelmingly positive about this link between Chippenham and Corsham.

Once complete, this scheme will provide a safer link for both pedestrians and cyclists between the two towns, making it easier for people to leave their car at home if they wish, and also helping to improve people's health and wellbeing.

The new facility will also link into the walking and cycling routes recently constructed as part of the Hunters Moon development. Emergency vehicles can still access Hunters Moon development via Methuen Park, and the bollards across the road bridge will be removable in the event of an emergency and to allow for bridge maintenance.

The work is being funded by the Department for Transport's Active Travel Fund. To find out more about this scheme and other active travel schemes in Wiltshire, people should see: www.wiltshire.gov.uk/highways-new-active-travel-schemes