New Platinum Way cycle route for Aylesbury

Community, Physical Activities
Chairman Dev Dhillon cutting the ribbon to open a new section of the Platinum Way

The Emerald Way cycle route in Aylesbury is being given a £1.4m upgrade and a new name to coincide with Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations. It is now called the Platinum Way.

Phase 1 of the work to upgrade the cycle route has just been completed. Using funding from the Department for Transport, the works to improve the cycle route include footway widening, new shared use cycle way crossing points and new signage along the route.

The 5km cycle route runs from Aylesbury Vale Parkway along Rabans Lane and through Fairford Leys into the town centre. Part of the Platinum Way route now passes through Somerville Park, providing a more attractive traffic-free option to Fowler Road.

The Platinum Way project has included several community events which have been set up with the Chiltern Rangers to support the project. Along with local volunteers, they have been busy planting along the route of the Platinum Way and running nature-themed art sessions including painting and making and decorating bird boxes.

In the coming months, designs will be completed for three new cycle and pedestrian crossings in Rabans Lane, Fowler Road, and Fowler Road near Bracken Way. Construction of Phase 2 is scheduled to take place in autumn 2022.

 

Later in the year, during National Tree week (26 November to 4 December), 1,000 bulbs and hundreds of trees will be planted as a native hedgerow to make Somerville Way and Haydon Hill better for wildlife. Local schools and community groups will be invited to help with this planting.

 

Nature-based art outside Prebendal Farm Community Centre in Aylesbury

To mark the completion of the first phase of work, Buckinghamshire Council Chairman Dev Dhillon cut the ribbon to open a new section which runs next to Prebendal Farm Community Centre. He also viewed a piece of community artwork which has been done as part of the project.

Speaking at the opening of the new section, Chairman Dev Dhillon said:

 

“We are committed to investing in our local green infrastructure, making it both easier and more enjoyable for more people to walk and cycle. Not only are there huge personal benefits for our health, but there are also huge benefits for the environment – because less journeys by car help to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality.”

To find out more about the Platinum Way, go to: www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/platinumway