PLANS for a new cycle path between Hedge End and Botley have shifted into first gear as county chiefs gave the go-ahead to the scheme.

The shared-use pedestrian and off-road cycleway is to be built from Poplar Cottage, on the northern end of the A334 Broad Oak, to Cedar Close in Lower Northam Road in Hedge End.

Work is expected to start later this year and will cost £350,000, with funding from housing developers and Sustrans, a green travel charity.

To provide more space for the off-road cycleway and avoid a clash with pedestrians, the pavement will be widened to 2.5 metres.

In addition, two new pedestrian crossing points will be provided near the Allen Road footpath and to the west of Hilton Road, near a new GP surgery.

Street lighting and drainage gullies will be moved as part of the project while road markings will be altered.

Councillor Mel Kendal, executive member for environment and transport, said: “Many of the people who will benefit from this scheme are schoolchildren, since this route is heavily used by pedestrians and cyclists travelling to the local secondary and primary schools.”