CyclescapeWillesborough Dykes Greenway, Ashford
The proposed route (blue/grey dashed) runs from the Aylesford Stream (just south of the shopping centre) in the north to Sheepfold Lane in the south.
Map data CC-by-SA OpenStreetMap
Route
The proposed route runs southward from the retail shopping centre at Ashford (where it joins NCR 18) through an area of rough grazing land (photo) known as Willesborough Dykes to join with an existing local cycle route at Sheepfold Lane, Park Farm, Kingsnorth.
Length: about 900m.
Rationale
It will provide a traffic-free route for cyclists and pedestrians from the new housing development at Park Farm to central Ashford. It will also provide access to Willesborough Dykes, a future nature conservation park.
Maps
- OpenCycleMap
- Bing map and Google map
- Ordnance Survey map (offers scale of 1:50000) or alternatively StreetMap (offers scale of 1:25000).
- Detailed route shown on this plan (source), prepared by Ashford Borough Council as part of Planning Application 10/00090/AS -- see below.
History
- Oct 2008: Identified as a potential route in the Green & Blue Grid Strategy (source) of Ashford Borough Council.
- Feb 2010: Planning Application 10/00090/AS (source) for the construction of a combined cyclist and pedestrian path connecting Park Farm, Kingsnorth with Central Ashford. This application contained an extensive Planning and Design and Access Statement" that provides a good overview of the proposed project.
- May 2010: The above planning application was granted.
Funding, sponsors and supporters
Ashford Borough Council
Present state of the route
At present, there is no public right of access to the Willesborough Dykes site. There is an old bridge over one of the streams (the East Stour) that cross the site, but extensive restoration work will be needed on it.
Next move
Planning permission having been granted, Ashford Borough Council are free to go ahead with the construction.
Latest news
The Spokes blog carries the latest news for this route.