Event marks opening of Newport to Stafford cycle route
Children and councillors have celebrated the opening of a new National Cycle Route which provides a direct link between Newport and Stafford.
The event saw 55 local children cycle along the new National Cycle Network Route 55 – overseen by helpers from Newport Cycling Club.
The ride was organised by the road safety and sustainable travel teams from Telford & Wrekin Council and Staffordshire County Council.
Year 5 and 6 children from Newport Junior School cycled across the border between Shropshire and Staffordshire to meet children from St Lawrence School in Gnosall.
They then returned together on a mass ride before cabinet members from Telford & Wrekin Council and Staffordshire County Council and also a representative of Newport Town Council, who is also a member of Newport Cycling Club.
The route runs from Stafford to Newport through Telford and down into Ironbridge and the new mostly off road section for cyclists and walkers is 12 miles in length.
The stretch from the A41 to the Staffordshire border took six weeks to construct and cost Telford & Wrekin Council £98,500.
The section between the Staffordshire border and Stafford cost £300,000 and was completed by Staffordshire County Council in January.
Councillor Hilda Rhodes, Telford & Wrekin Council’s cabinet member for Transport, said:
“I am delighted that the new route which links the two counties is finally complete and I am sure that cyclists and walkers will enjoy using it.”
