Grant helps council fill in ‘missing link’ on Test Way path (From This is Hampshire)

Grant helps council fill in ‘missing link’ on Test Way path

10:20am Monday 6th February 2012 in Romsey

A SHARED pedestrian-cycleway linking two sections of Hampshire’s Test Way long-distance walk at Stockbridge has been given the green light.

Work on the missing link, alongside the A30 and A3057, is due to start today (Monday) and is expected to take about 14 weeks.

The 820-metre path will run from the roundabout at the bottom of the High Street to just north of the A30 (London Road) turning on the northern outskirts of the town. Green transport charity, Sustrans, via the Big Lottery Fund, has contributed £110,000 of the £121,000 costs.

The path will become part of the National Cycleway Network Route 246. Borough cabinet spokesman for planning and transport, Martin Hatley, said: “I am delighted that we have secured the funding from Sustrans to complete this section of the Test Way.

“A council aim is to deliver on the public’s wish to provide local leisure facilities for them to enjoy, in this instance the opportunity to walk or cycle through some of the South’s most beautiful countryside.”

Sustrans South East Regional director, Simon Pratt, added: “We’re delighted to be able to offer the funding to create a new walking and cycling route along the A3057/A30. We hope that the new route will encourage even more people in Stockbridge to get around on foot or by bike.”

A “portrait bench” will be installed along the route as part of a national arts programme and three life-sized steel figures of local people will be positioned behind the seat. The subjects will be chosen by the people of Stockbridge.

Stockbridge Parish Councilchairman, Janet Whiteley, said the building of the path was good news for the town and Test Valley as a whole.

She said: “I am very pleased to hear about the Sustrans grant for Stockbridge which will enhance the green travel plans for the borough.”

However, Mrs Whiteley added that she’d like to see the existing 30 mph limit along the A30 near Stockbridge Primary School extended further north towards Leckford.

“Motorbikes come along this stretch of the A30 at speeds well in excess of 50mph let alone 30mph,” said Mrs Whiteley.