NEARLY 3,000 cyclists have tested out a new route that links Petersfield with Queen Elizabeth Country Park since its November launch.
There’s truth to the saying “if you build it, they will come” according to usage figures handed to Hampshire County Council (HCC).
Building the £1.5m cycleway was problematic with the 2.5 mile route opening nearly a year later than expected and £500,000 over budget.
But creating the safe route through the Butser Cutting has been worth every penny according to cyclists, with 2,801 using the cycleway in the seven weeks since its grand opening in November.
The figures have impressed Cllr Andrew Gibson, HCC Executive Member for Culture, Recreation and Countryside, who officially opened the route.
He said: “These are very good numbers during winter, due to the positive word of mouth from cyclists and enthusiasm seen on social media for this high standard all-weather track built by HCC.
“Staff have seen a wide variety of visitors and local residents, and have particularly noticed an increasing number of families with children riding in tag-alongs which is wonderful to see.”
The cycleway was delivered and partly funded by HCC with £865,000 coming from the South Downs National Park Authority, via the Department for Transport.
Further sums of £300,000 and £220,000 were handed over by the Local Enterprise Partnership and East Hampshire District Council, respectively.