Safety Boost For Kettering Road To Encourage Cycling

Improvements are to be made under the railway bridge on Kettering Road in Little Bowden to encourage more people to cycle.

It should also make things safer for drivers, as existing cycle lanes are to be widened and temporary traffic lights installed either side of the bridge, to improve traffic flow.

The bridge on Kettering Road in Little Bowden

Currently drivers have to give-way before going through the narrow stretch of road.

Leicestershire County Council is behind the move, which is part of a number of schemes being paid for by £300,000 of funding from the government’s ‘Emergency Active Travel Fund.’

It’s been set up to encourage more people to walk and cycle during the Coronavirus pandemic, with public transport less safe.

Market Harborough county councillor Sarah Hill is welcoming the move:

It’s not yet been announced when work to implement the temporary measures will begin.

Trevor Pendleton, county council cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “Nationally, there’s been a 100 per cent increase in cycling and walking for leisure purposes as a result of the lockdown so we want these positive behaviour changes to continue.

“By making it easier for people to walk or cycle safely, we’re helping to make Leicestershire a greener, healthier and happier place to live.

“These changes being announced won’t be all of them. We want to support walking and cycling, more projects are in the pipeline and we would very much welcome suggestions for other changes.”