Cyclists can now ride a cycle route from the north of Havering to the River Thames in the south of the borough after the opening of a new 13-mile extension.
The £2 million project between Havering Council and sustainable transport charity Sustrans, has seen the creation of the new “Ingrebourne Way” cycling and walking route.
The “mostly off-road” path runs close to the River Ingrebourne, stretching from Lower Noke Close at Dagnam Park, Harold Hill to the River Thames in Rainham.
It has been funded by the BIG Lottery, Veolia Havering Riverside Trust and Transport for London (TfL) and is part of the National Cycle Network.
The aim of the project is to join together areas of green space in the borough to form one long, continuous, fully accessible public route,
The new path was officially opened on Wednesday of last week by schoolchildren from Branfil, Suttons and R J Mitchell Primaries; Cllr Robert Benham, cabinet member for Community Empowerment; and Cllr Andrew Curtin, cabinet member for Culture, Towns and Communities, along with officials from Sustrans and BIG Lottery.
Cllr Benham, a keen cyclist, said: “I was delighted to open the new cycle route. I’m sure it will be a huge success.
“Most of the route is off-road and safe for people of all ages and cycling abilities. People can now use the Ingrebourne Way to travel to work and to school, to enjoy the countryside alongside the river and to visit Rainham Marshes.
“I thank all the organisations who have supported and funded the project. Enormous thanks go to TfL which gave nearly £1m, and thanks to Sustrans, and to the BIG Lottery for a grant of £880,000.”
Bryn Lockwood, Sustrans’ area manager in north London, said: “This new route is fantastic for the local community as it enables people to make everyday journeys by foot and bike.
“We are delighted with the success of this project, as this new route already allows local schoolchildren and their parents to confidently walk and cycle to school.
“It is vital that we continue creating more routes that provide people with the opportunity to walk and cycle every day so we all have the opportunity to be fit and healthy.”
To find out the National Cycle Network route through Havering, visit the website www.sustrans.org.uk/ncn/map and enter your postcode into the map.
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