A CYCLE path between Eynsham and Botley could benefit from some of the Government’s £114m fund set aside for cycling improvements.

Community group Bike Safe want to build a community path – for cyclists and pedestrians – alongside the busy B4044.

Last week the Government announced eight Cycling Ambition cities, one of which is Oxford, could bid for the the money now it was available.

Plans for the B4044 scheme, which will cost an estimated £1.5m, are ready to be submitted to Oxfordshire County Council, which in turn could use it to bid for central government funds.

Bike Safe chairman Ian Leggett said: “Our scheme is ready to go, we’ve done all the work already. We’ve done a topographical survey, a botanical survey and will be looking to submit a planning application by March.

“I’m hoping when the county council thinks about what schemes to put forward, they think of us to help them secure the money from central government.”

Campaigners say the 50mph single carriageway road between Eynsham and Dean Court via Farmoor is dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists.

Our top stories

Oxford benefited from a little over one per cent, £800,000, of the £77m that was available when the Government opened up last year’s funding bids.

The group said this year £1m of central government funding would make the scheme a reality.

Mr Leggett said: “It’s less than one per cent of the pot, it’s not as if we are asking for the moon.

“Other cities, like Cambridge, Bristol and Newcastle are getting better organised than Oxford.

“If we are off the pace we are going to lose out.”

The campaign is today launching an official partnership with international sports retailers Decathlon, which opened a store in Botley in the summer.

The group has been announced as the company’s in-store charity.

Rory Johnson, manager of the cycles and workshop department at Decathlon, said: “The B4044 path is a very worthwhile project and it is a natural fit for our store to support as it will benefit the whole community.”

  • Do you want alerts delivered straight to your phone via our WhatsApp service? Text NEWS or SPORT or NEWS AND SPORT, depending on which services you want, and your full name to 07767 417704. Save our number into your phone’s contacts as Oxford Mail WhatsApp and ensure you have WhatsApp installed.