Work was due to begin in Dover today to continue developing a high quality walking and cycling link joining Buckland Mill to the seafront, following the River Dour Valley.
The River Dour Greenway is part of the wider regeneration programme for the town being co-ordinated by the Dover Pride Regeneration Partnership. The route forms part of Dover's Connect2 project, a partnership between Kent County Council and Sustrans, the charity enabling people to make more of their everyday journeys by foot, bike or public transport.
Sustrans' Connect2 project is developing new walking and cycling links in locations across the UK. It was awarded £50million by the Big Lottery Fund in 2007, following a public vote. Part of this grant (£450,000) is being used in Dover, along with an additional £300,000 of funding from the County Council.
Upon completion, the new River Dour Greenway will allow and encourage people to cycle or walk from one end of Dover to the other in a safe and pleasant environment.
Kent County Council Deputy Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Waste, David Brazier, said: "This is good news for Dover. As well as providing easy access, the path is a link with the town's historic past. It opens up many areas which until now have been largely unseen."
Simon Pratt, Sustrans Regional Director for South East England, said: "We are very pleased to see that works are due to start in Dover. This will be an important route for local people as it will avoid the busy one-way system around the town, therefore making it so much easier and safer for people to get around on foot or by bike."
Public consultation was held from January to March 2010 and the majority of respondents were in favour of the new walking and cycle route. The concerns of those who were not in favour or gave qualified support have been considered and addressed wherever possible.
Fiona Dempsie, Big Lottery Fund Head of Region for the South East, said: "This is great news for Dover as the new route will make it all that bit easier to make everyday journeys by foot or bike. People from across the UK voted for Sustrans to be awarded the £50 million Lottery grant, so it's fantastic to see some of that funding making its way to support communities within the town."
When completed the cycle and walking path will run from Buckland Mill to the Seafront, following the River Dour valley. Works on Phase 1a of the development commenced last October. The footway in Buckland Avenue and within the Brookfield Place junction was widened to provide adequate width for a shared use pedestrian and cycleway. Phase 1b will commence on 4 January, for a planned duration of 6 weeks, and will include improvements to the traffic signals at the junction of Buckland Avenue and Cherry Tree Avenue. Further parts of Phase 1 are planned for the period leading up to April 2011, with the remainder of the route following on in late 2011 and 2012.
