£113,000 safer cycling and walking route underway in Eden

The construction of a new £113k footway/cycleway, which will provide pedestrians and cyclists with an alternative to walking along a fast and dangerous road, is underway in Eden.

The path is being constructed on the verge on the south side of the A685 and will provide a safe link between the villages of Ravenstonedale and Newbiggin on Lune.

The current link to the villages is cut in half by a bypass which means that cyclists and pedestrians have to walk along a very dangerous and fast road for several hundred yards, or struggle along an unkempt verge with no path.

The new path will be almost 700 metres long and is being funded from the county council's capital fund. Work began this week and Cumbria County Council expect to have it in use by the end of February.

The installation came about following dedicated efforts from Ravenstonedale Parish Council.

County Councillor for the Kirkby Stephen division, Peter Thornton, said: “I'm very pleased that the county council has been able to construct this footway/cycleway. It will make a huge difference to the people of Ravenstonedale and Newbiggin on Lune and it will make a big contribution to road safety. The Upper Eden area is very popular with cyclists and this short stretch of pathway will add to the routes available and get rid of a very dangerous stretch of road for pedestrians and cyclists alike.”

Chris Elphick, Clerk to Ravenstonedale Parish Council, said: “The Parish Council is delighted to see the commencement of work on the footway/cycleway.  We have been actively campaigning for this since 1998. The two villages have been effectively separated since the building of the new A685 trunk road in the late 1970s. Particular thanks are due to Peter Thornton who has vigorously supported our requests in committee.”