Cycle path improvements encourage children to cycle to school
Cycling to lessons has been made even easier for one local school thanks to the tidying up of a cycle path link to Grosvenor Park School, Morecambe.
Cycling to lessons has been made even easier for one local school thanks to the tidying up of a cycle path link to Grosvenor Park School, Morecambe.
As part of Lancaster City Council's Cycling Demonstration Town (CDT) Project, improvements have been carried out to the cycle/footway link to the Lancaster Morecambe Greenway (cycle track) from Roeburn Drive alongside Grosvenor Park School.
This is a key strategic link between the Greenway and Lancaster and Morecambe College and other proposed cycle routes on Morecambe Road.
Prior to the works being undertaken, residents regarded the path to be narrow, dingy and unattractive, fenced on both sides with overgrown rotting trees and undergrowth.
The improvements included realignment of the school boundary fence, removal of the dying/decaying trees and undergrowth and the planting of new trees and a hedgerow.
Children from Grosvenor Park School will be helping to complete the job by planting the remaining trees this week (Thursday, 24 January).
Kevin Kendall, Head Teacher at Grosvenor Park School said: "As one of the district's Bike It Schools, we have seen a 300% increase in the amount of children cycling to school. This narrow path used to get quite congested with cyclists and pedestrians at the beginning and end of the school day. The improvements made to this link to the Greenway will help solve this problem and I am sure will encourage even more children and their parents to cycle to our school."
As a result of the work, the path is much more attractive and welcoming and will provide an improved sense of safety which should, in the long term, encourage greater use of it by both pedestrians and cyclists.
The works have been carried out by Cumbrian Industrials Ltd (Lancaster City Council's partner contractor for the CDT project) and their subcontractors Farish Groundworks Ltd and Ashlea Landscaping. The works have been facilitated with the assistance of the Head Teacher and Board of Governors of Grosvenor Park School and co-operation of the landowner Lancashire County Council.
Lancashire County Council have also contributed to the cost of the scheme from their 'Safer Routes to Schools' budget.
Coun Eileen Blamire, cabinet member with responsibility for cycling said: "Lancaster City Council is continuing to make great progress in improving our local cycling network to ensure paths are safer, more attractive and easier to access. We hope that these improvement works and others planned for 2008 will encourage more local people to reap the benefits of using these traffic free paths as a healthy and easy way of getting around the district."
Date Updated: 19/03/09