Staffordshire cycle path nearing completion

Staffordshire County Council's highways team hopes to start work on the final 3km stretch of the Millennium Way, at Gnosall, near Stafford in September.

The £300k improvements planned follow a previous £1.1m investment on the popular route, a former railway line.

The project will run alongside the Way of the Millenium, a 65km walking route spanning the length of Staffordshire.

Work will start after environment agencies have surveyed the area for protected wildlife.

Local Staffordshire County Councillor and Cabinet Lead for Economy and Infrastructure, Mark Winnington said:

"We are committed to finishing the route as quickly as we can, and will be working closely with local communities, parish councils and our partners.

"The new cycleway will provide an excellent facility for local cyclists and walkers to enjoy, but before we start, we need to make sure that the area and any protected wildlife are not harmed by the works."

The county council hopes that the route will reduce congestion and be a healthier option to driving.

This section along the former railway line is close to an area of special scientific interest, with a diverse range of habitat and wildlife and once the necessary surveys have been carried out during the summer, the work can start.

The Stafford to Shrewsbury railway line ran via Newport from 1849 to 1966, and once the final section is complete will give people a 14-mile stretch of modern cycleway.

Highways teams will work with partner organisations, alongside volunteers from the Staffordshire Volunteering Network to complete the work.

Staffordshire already has good access to the National Cycling Network– NCN– which connect with many local routes across the County.

Local cycling maps for all districts are available from libraries, and there are more details at www.staffordshire.gov.ukw