CYCLISTS will soon be able to whizz along the Winnaway after a new scheme was approved.

The scheme aims to encourage people to use two wheels to get between Harwell village and the Harwell campus.

Oxfordshire County Council’s transport cabinet member David Nimmo Smith approved the scheme on Thursday.

The project will involve improvements along the A417, the Winnaway bridleway and the A4185.

Mark Kemp, the county council’s deputy director for environment and economy, said: “In 2013, Harwell Oxford Joint Venture submitted a bid to the local enterprise partnership Growing Places Fund and has been granted funding.

“Oxfordshire County Council has been commissioned with a memorandum of understanding to deliver the scheme by March 2015. The bid was to fund a range of cycle improvement schemes within the enterprise zone and Science Vale area.

“The Winnaway is seen as a key route for improvement and has been given priority for the funding.

“The brief requires a clean, hard surface for cyclists travelling between Harwell Oxford Campus and Harwell village and improved crossing opportunities on the A4185 and A417.”

The scheme will involve a new mini-roundabout and widening paths on the A417, while the Winnaway bridleway will be widened and resurfaced. A shared-use path will be created on the A4185 linking the Winnaway to an existing crossing.

David Marsh, chairman of Harwell Parish Council, said: “It is a well-used route within the village by people going to and from the campus.

“From the parish’s point of view the big benefit will be that there will be a roundabout on the A417 which will make it easier for cyclists but also slow down traffic and make it flow better.”

Harwell Oxford is a science and business campus that is home to 150 businesses. Harwell Oxford Campus said: “A growing group of employees commute to the campus by bicycle and we hope to see that increase.”

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