CIVIC chiefs have pledged to improve cycle routes in Winchester, with details emerging in the new sport and leisure park designs.

Winchester City Council’s leisure committee heard that the new leisure centre would be connected to the city via a new system of interconnected paths and cycle routes.

A council spokesman said: “One of the opportunities of the Bar End site is the proximity to National Cycle Network 23, a route that connects to Winchester City Centre in the north and the Viaduct Way to the south. A dedicated route is being planned that connects the sport and leisure centre to the network, delivering an improved, safer and direct route.”

Heather Evans, founder of Bespoke Biking, added that she was excited to hear that the council would be improving cycle routes in the city. She said: “The whole idea of encouraging people to cycle just makes so much sense to me. We have problems with traffic, with pollution, with families not getting enough exercise, and cycling can help to solve all of those.”

The news comes after the council signed a deal with Bespoke Biking for a two-year trial which will see the not-for-profit community cycling hub take over the running of the city’s Bikeabout bike hire scheme.

The new deal will see the city gift Bespoke Biking with the current stock of hire bikes ( 10 hybrid bikes, 4 Pashley bikes and 2 electric bikes) and £2,500 a year to continue providing the facility.

If the two year trial is successful, the city council would hand the bikes over to Bespoke Biking at no cost to help them continue to run the bike hire service for the city. They would also provide free hire bikes for city workers during the course of the scheme.

It comes after new images emerged last week showing how the sports and leisure park may look (photos).