A NEW footbridge will link the coach park and the central car park as part of the River Park project. 

It will cost £458,000 and the money will come from a pot of nearly £1million that Wiltshire Council has been awarded to create three new cycling and walking routes in the county.

The council has received £978,000 from Active Travel England’s Active Travel Fund 4 (ATF4) to fund the ventures.

As well as the new bridge, which will be completed by April 2024 as part of the first phase of the River Park project, the council will also build an Amesbury to Larkhill cycle link. 

The £200,000 for the Amesbury to Larkhill cycle link will fund the development and design of a scheme along Countess Road.

Active Travel England had initially indicated a funding allocation of £878,366 for Wiltshire, with the council receiving around £100,000 more than the initial allocation.

The council had originally identified the Salisbury scheme as the first priority, while the Amesbury to Larkhill scheme was named as the sixth, however, Active Travel England decided to award funding for this project too.

The council will now seek alternative funding sources for the other priority schemes.

Councillor Caroline Thomas, Cabinet Member for Transport, said: "We’re delighted to receive more than our initial allocation from Active Travel England for these three projects that will offer safer walking and cycling opportunities in Wiltshire."

She added: "Choosing to walk, wheel or cycle can help to save people money, improve health and also reduce carbon emissions, and that’s why we’re committed to active travel as part of our Business Plan."

She continued: "We look forward to the Salisbury scheme being constructed, while the Amesbury scheme can move forward to the detailed design stage thanks to this funding."

All schemes in the council’s bid had to meet a minimum assessment threshold to ensure they promote and encourage walking and wheeling.

To find out more about active travel schemes in Wiltshire, readers can visit www.wiltshire.gov.uk/highways-new-active-travel-schemes