This in from the council, in their own words. Ed
Using money secured under the government’s Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF), more than £130,000 has been spent improving the route that runs between Fishbourne Lane and Quarr Road, Binstead. It is part of the overall project to create a safe, traffic free and well surfaced route between Ryde and Newport.
The old stone and gravel route has been replaced with a cement-bound base overlaid with a surface dressing that is in keeping with the rural setting of the area.
Suitable for all
The new route is now suitable for walkers, cyclists, horse riders, wheelchair users and people with push-buggies. New gates at either end of the route have also been installed. With
Quarr Abbey undergoing its own refurbishment recently, the council also worked very closely with the abbey and with Island Roads, which carried out the improvements on the route, to ensure any disruption during works was kept to a minimum.
A testament to the hard work by officers
Councillor Luisa Hillard, Executive member for sustainability, environment and public realm, said:
“I am very pleased to see this latest shared route finished and it is a testament to the hard work done by officers.
“With Quarr Abbey itself also recently undergoing refurbishment works using Heritage Lottery funds, the upgraded route from Ryde provides improved opportunities for visitors to the abbey without needing to use a car.”
Councillor Shirley Smart, Executive member for economy and tourism, added:
“This route is well used and is popular with residents and tourists alike. The old route was in need of upgrading and I am delighted these excellent improvements have been carried out which means the route can be enjoyed by so many people including walkers, cyclists and horse riders.”
The Isle of Wight Council was recently informed its latest bid for funding under the government’s next round of LSTF money has been accepted. The council will find out in the autumn how much it will receive, having put in a bid for just under one million pounds of revenue funding.
Image: Kid Cowboyunder CC BY 2.0
