THE first phase of a new controversial cycling and walking route in Northumberland is complete.
The route, linking Corbridge and Hexham, forms part of a £9 million scheme to boost active travel - funded through the UK Government's £14.7 million Levelling Up Fund award to Northumberland.
Work so far has focused on the west end of Hexham, around the hospital and train station.
It will largely follow the A695 between the two towns, connecting the hospital and the school.
However, the road is being narrowed, and plans are in place to reduce the speed limit - from 60mph to 50mph, dropping as low as 30mph through Dilston. Traffic lights will also be installed on Dilston Bridge to allow traffic to pass safely.
The changes have proved controversial locally, with residents divided over the scheme.
Richard Wearmouth, cabinet member for cycling and walking at Northumberland County Council, said: "It’s great to see this project progressing well as teams move onto the next phase, and we’ve already witnessed a good amount of use of the sections now in place giving residents the opportunity to improve their health, reduce transport costs and make more sustainable travel choices."
The new infrastructure includes segregated spaces for cyclists and walkers, fresh bus shelters, bollards near Hexham Priory School, and improved lighting and drainage.
Phase two is now underway, stretching from the Corbridge roundabout along the B6321 toward the A695 junction.
The B6321, which passes Corbridge Cemetery, will be closed for three months to allow for construction, with traffic diverted via the A695 and Tinklers Bank.
Sections of the A695 will also be closed throughout the coming year. The county council has emphasised that the Levelling Up Fund is ringfenced for active travel improvements and cannot be used for other projects.
Cllr Wearmouth acknowledged the inconvenience caused by the works and thanked everyone for their understanding as the scheme takes shape.
The scheme has not been without criticism, particularly regarding community engagement.
Some residents near Dilston Bridge have raised concerns about road narrowing and the planned traffic lights.
David Burdus, a wheelchair user who lives in Dilston, said: "NCC [Northumberland County Council] leadership appears to be hellbent on urbanising a semi-rural area, designing a cycleway more suited to a city and creating a recipe for chaos in the years to come.
"What we are now seeing is the result of Northumberland Council failing to create the appropriate channels of communication to conduct meaningful consultation with the community during early planning and budgeting stages.
"Risk assessments have been weighted against the issues raised by local residents who are adversely affected by the scheme in favour of a vocal, politically driven minority with vested interests."
A spokesperson for the county council responded: "The funding closely aligns with the County Council's local transport plan, supports local and regional policy objectives relating to active travel, connectivity and sustainable growth."
They added that: "The scheme forms part of the Hexham Local Walking and Cycling Improvement Plan (LCWIP), which was developed alongside others for the 12 main towns in Northumberland.
"Online consultation was undertaken as part of the LCWIPs, and in the early stages of the scheme, following this letter drops relating to specific elements of design, face-to-face engagement with stakeholder groups and further public drop-in sessions have taken place both in Hexham and Corbridge as the scheme designs were being developed and indeed during construction.
"More are planned as Phase 2 gets underway from the outskirts of Hexham, moving towards Corbridge."
They added that feedback has been mainly positive for the scheme. Despite criticisms, county councillors supporting the project remain optimistic.
Trevor Cessford, councillor for Hexham North, said: "I’m really pleased to see this scheme taking shape, with the first phase now complete and the second phase underway. It’s good to see the route being used.
"Clearly there is a lot of discussion about this project in the town as it progresses, which is good to see, and I’d encourage people to use the County Council’s website to find out the latest information on this scheme."
County councillor for Hexham East, Suzanne Fairless-Aitken, said: "Not only can families in the east end of Hexham and commuters safely cycle to both stations now, and also join up with the popular Route 72 at Tyne Green - the infrastructure going in around the cycle path means that the road will be safer for pedestrians too."
The full route is expected to open in spring 2027.
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