Work on providing a 3.7 km shared cycle and walking path along Queen Anne Drive and Magna Road as far as the Knighton Lane junction is now complete with the final section of the project to the Bear Cross roundabout not starting until spring 2023.

The break in work is needed to enable Taylor Wimpey to undertake road and junction improvements at the Magna Road/Knighton Lane junction including an entrance into the new Canford Park housing development.

Work in this first phase includes junction improvements where joining roads meet Queen Anne Drive and Magna Road with safer crossings for cyclists and walkers; new toucan crossings and light-controlled crossings at the Canford Magna junction; refurbished and improved bus shelters with raised access and clearer signs and markings all along the route.

Cllr Mike Greene, BCP Council’s portfolio holder for transport and sustainability said: “We are really progressing well with our local Transforming Cities Fund sustainable travel improvements. Queen Anne Drive/Magna Road is a key school route and these important improvements will give families the confidence they need to be able to walk and cycle safely to school.

“Added to this, with two proposed housing developments about to be built in the area, this is a great opportunity to implement sustainable travel infrastructure and encourage the new home-owners to adopt cycling, walking, scooting and taking the bus to work, leisure and education. This will help to lower the impact of traffic in the area as well as encouraging eco-friendly active travel.”

Mrs Katherine Ansty, headteacher of Merley First School said: “We like to encourage our pupils to lead a healthy life and adopting an active form of travel to school, like cycling, walking or scooting, is a great way for them to get some daily exercise. The children’s safety is, of course, of paramount importance to us, so these new facilities, safely separated from the road, will hopefully encourage more families to adopt an active form of travel for the school run.”

The improvements will form part of the new TCF green travel route between Merley and Christchurch.