Wakefield Council gives green light to cycle route

Wakefield Council have approved plans for the 8km cycleway linking the two towns.

The proposed route will run from the new houses being built at the Pontefract Prince of Wales colliery site to Knottingley along parts of the Aire and Calder Navigation.

Coun David Dagger, the council’s cabinet member for transportation and highways, said creating more opportunities for cycling would boost personal fitness, help ease congestion on the roads and reduce local levels of pollution.

He said: “This new cycleway will link two centres in the district, encourage people to cycle to work more and to enjoy our local countryside.”

A report to the council’s cabinet meeting on Tuesday said the project would be funded by £600,000 of Department for Transport money, left over from the Pontefract Northern Link Road scheme.

Coun Dagger said: “I think this is an excellent way of using the money and showing that, as well as investing in big infrastructure like roads, we are also investing in modes of transport which will benefit health and the environment.”

The council will also put £121,000 of its own money towards the cycle route and use cash secured from housing developers as part of planning agreements.

A public consultation will take place on the proposed route of the cycleway.