Tewkesbury’s new glow worm-friendly cycle track that won’t shine all night
Work begins next week (November 30th) to extend the cycle network in Tewkesbury
The final section of the Newtown Cycle Path – linking Northway Lane and Morrisons - is being laid as part of Gloucestershire County Council's initiative to create a new "green" corridor.
The track is 480 metres long by three metres wide and will take around nine working weeks to complete at a cost of around £150,000.
Gloucestershire Highways is funding the project with a contribution from Sustrans, the charity which promotes sustainable transport through its ‘Links to School' programme to create an off road cycle route that school children can use.
Cllr Stan Waddington, Gloucestershire County Council cabinet member for environment said, "We are determined to get more people out of their cars and this is another initiative designed to achieve that because cycling is a much healthier and more sustainable means of getting around.
"Another feature of this track is that it will be lit with intelligent street lighting which will turn off after 11pm. Not only is this in line with our stated aim of reducing our carbon footprint, but it should also please environmentalists because it will allow darkness for glow worms.
"A lot of our ecological planning for this has been around protecting the glow worm population that might be affected by the work".
The completion of the path coincides with the Count Me In! programme series of cycling initiatives which are due to sweep the town throughout 2010. The completed cycle route will form the centrepiece of the Count Me In!-funded Get Cycling festival in May 2010 and a host of other activities.
Work is already under way on the section between Green Lane and Gannaway Lane which should be complete in December.
Earlier this month work was completed on the first section of the extension between Green Lane and Gannaway Lane.
Anj Patel, Healthy Town, Count Me In! Activity Officer said, "The completion of the cycle track coincides with the CMI programme which is promoting cycling for all ages. It will form the centrepiece of the "Get Cycling" events, leading up to the CMI cycling festival in May 2010, and will provide a new green corridor creating a direct off road route through Tewkesbury for workers, recreational cyclists and families."
Local county councillor Vernon Smith said, "It's fantastic being part of Gloucestershire County Council's new administration delivering frontline services that benefit the people of Tewkesbury".