A GROUP of volunteers have created a digital map of all the non-vehicular routes in and around Salisbury to help promote “sustainable connectivity” between developments and neighbourhoods.

The group – part of the Salisbury Area Greenspace Partnership – has surveyed and mapped all linear routes, rights of way, tracks, roads without footways and desire lines.

Speaking at last Thursday’s Salisbury Area Board meeting connectivity group chairman Pam Rouquette said: “Our overarching aim is to develop a connectivity strategy which will provide a comprehensive network and hierarchy of safe traffic-free routes for people while also providing benefits for wildlife.

“The audit has enabled us to identify the gaps and missing links and we hope it will be produced as a material consideration for future developments.

“Salisbury is destined to grow considerably over the next ten to 20 years and yet little thought has been given to green infrastructure to support the new developments which will have a significant impact on radial routes into the city centre.”

The group has identified three routes which, it believes, would provide the impetus needed to shift people’s behaviour and encourage active travel.

* An off-road route from the new Fugglestone Red development to Five Rivers Leisure Centre

* From Longhedge and Old Sarum right round to the east to Salisbury District Hospital (SDH) via Laverstock and Southampton Road

* From the new Fugglestone Red development to SDH on the west side via Bemerton, Quidhampton and Harnham They involve improving existing rights of way and creating some new traffic-free routes.

“We want to see an outer green orbital route which is entirely off road,” Pam said.

“The orbital routes would have destinations inwards to the city centre and outwards to the countryside.

“It has been shown where safe off road routes exist like the Town Path and the riverside path, they will be used and the cost benefits far outweigh the infrastructure costs.

“These proposed new routes need to be identified now and incorporated into the planning system so they are safeguarded and future funding from 106 agreements and CIL are used to implement Green Infrastructure strategy for the whole Salisbury area.”

Councillors endorsed the map.

The next step involves a consultation.

Area board chairman Richard Clewer said: “I want to highlight the absurdity of Longhedge where we’ve allowed a development to be built that has no footpath linking it to anything nearby.

“It’s been put to us on the planning committee that the reason for it is because of ransom strips and the fact that no-one has been able to get the land.”

“I hope that through this bit of work.....we can make it absolutely crystal clear to our planning officers that we will not accept it happening again.”

The connectivity focus group has involved organisations ranging from the Cycling Opportunities Group and Walking for Health to Bemerton Activity Trails and the Civic Society.