Cycle lane

Walking and cycling routes in Lichfield and Burntwood are set to be improved as part of a £38million project.

Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet has approved the funding, which will see more than £30million spent on ongoing repairs and maintenance of roads.

But a portion of the money will also be spent creating better routes for cyclists and walkers between Burntwood and Chasewater, as well as along the towpath near Fradley Park.

Other new road projects expected to benefit from the cash include the Lichfield Southern Bypass.

Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet member for highways and transport, Cllr Helen Fisher, said: “Good roads are important for communities and for businesses, not just for getting from A to B safely, but for supporting economic growth and better access to jobs, education and learning.

“Maintaining and investing in our huge 6,000km road network, at a time of enormous pressure on council budgets, remains an issue. The particularly cold winter and bouts of snow also have an impact, both in terms of increasing the cost of gritting our major roads to keep people on the move, but also the growing repair bill for roads damaged by the freezing conditions.

“We are spending more every year on social care and when the income we receive from Government is reducing we have to strike a careful balance on where we spend taxpayers’ money.

“We have committed an extra £5m this year to go some way to tackling the historic backlog of low-risk potholes and this annual plan sets out priorities for further maintenance and investment in our roads.”

Founder of Lichfield Live and editor of the site.

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GAB
5 years ago

As a Burntwood resident, I’ve often been baffled by the bike lanes in the town. One second it’s on the road, the next on the path, then off somewhere else. It makes perfect sense to have a well-planned bike route to Chasewater, however, I would also appreciate a bike route between the main areas of Burntwood (Sankeys to High Street, Swan Island to Morley Road, etc)

Perhaps while they’re at it, we could have a walk pathway from Burntwood to Lichfield? Cause isn’t it stupid how Lichfield paved all the way to their border with Burntwood and then just stopped?! Perhaps a walk + bike away along the A5190 could be a great idea for our 1st walking/biking connection to our council city?

Cllr Sue Woodward
5 years ago

Plans afoot, GAB, to try to re-use old rail line between City and Chasewater. This was a proposal from former Lichfield North Councillor, Caroline Wood. She and I met senior officers a while back and I continue to push the idea along with Cllr Helen Fisher – and we have garnered cross-party and interested parties’ support in a steering group.

Steve
5 years ago

I am looking forward to the opening of the Mike Wilcox route.

We are not allowed to know where it is. All we know is, it can never be completed and costs council tax payers a fortune.

AgitatorofPeople
5 years ago

Back the Track have been onto this for years with Sustrans, opening up the old south staffs line for cycling and pedestrian use it should have the same sort of backing and profile as the Lichfield and Hatherton Canal Trust yet seems to struggle along on a shoe string and a small but dedicated team of volunteers, this is the very thing that can open up communities and make them attractive for tourism, linking old heritage sites with the new leisure activities and transport use. http://www.backthetrack.org.uk/ and twitter @backthetrack