Almost £300,000 is to be spent improving cycling routes across Canterbury with six schemes getting the go-ahead from the city council.

The project - funded with Levelling Up Fund money - is aimed at encouraging more short journeys through ‘active travel’ and helping to reduce transport emissions.

Canterbury City Council’s joint transportation board has now given the go-ahead for the schemes to be designed in more detail and constructed, ultimately providing a more joined-up, safer cross-city route for cyclists.

Speaking at the meeting on Tuesday night, the council’s head of transport and environment, Richard Moore, said the authority had been successful in bidding for the funding and had been working with the cycling group Spokes to devise it.

“They are not controversial and we will consult with local residents where appropriate,” he added.

The planned upgrades were welcomed by Cllr Alex Ricketts (Lib Dem) who said: “I have cycled lots of these routes many times and the improvements are much-needed.”

The works are planned for:

*St Stephen’s pathway city centre to University of Kent. Includes widening and improved waymarking to off-road route, improved crossing area on highway at Beaconsfield Road

*Old Ruttington Lane to New Ruttington Lane National Cycle Route 1. Contraflow lane at Northgate end of route, and minor kerbline adjustments at Northgate junction to allow cyclists to turn right

*Sun Street. The existing ‘no entry’ restriction in Sun Street amended to a cycle contraflow, allowing cyclists to use the street southbound between 4pm and 10.30am

*Toddler’s Cove to Wincheap off-road route. Widening of path on northern side of the river in Tannery Field. Installation of solar stud lighting to off-road route and works to improve the surface and the priority where it crosses the car park

*National Cycle Route 1 Brymore Road to Military Road, which joins Fordwich Way to Military Road. Improvements to include better lighting and widening both approaches to the path together with better signing, dropped kerbs and replacement bollards

*Riverside path Kingsmead to Asda. Improvements to wayfinding and minor vegetation clearance along route