A HAMPSHIRE councillor has announced a new cycle and pedestrian path worth "thousands" of pounds may not be open until 2022.

Cllr Alan Dowden, who represents Valley Park on the borough council, revealed the route going through North Baddesley will span from Castle Lane to where Botley Road meets with Rownhams Lane.

The project is set to be launched by Hampshire County Council.

Cllr Dowden said: "The work on the route was due to start this year and obviously it is disappointing, but I understand that it is very long and it will help children get to Mountbatten School.

"There were objections to the cycle route in 2017 as residents didn't want the route outside of their houses, so now the council is going to put the route on the northern side of the road and cyclists will not have to cross the road.

"The route will go past North Baddesley Recreation Ground, across where the crossroads are, past the nursery on Botley Road towards Mountbatten School.

"It will also mean people from Eastleigh and Valley will be able to cycle safely all that way to Romsey, but the work will not start until 2021."

He added: "There will be a big cost for it and I imagine it would cost hundreds of thousands of pounds and it should be completed by 2022.

"The county council have been very good to North Baddesley because years ago the parish council were given land on the other side of the original recreation ground."

A spokesperson for Hampshire County Council said: "We are investigating the possibility of providing a shared use footway and cycleway along the northern side of the A27 Botley Road between Firgrove Road and Castle Lane, which would fill in the gap in off-road cycle provision between Romsey and Chandler’s Ford.

"The scheme is subject to further design work, and public consultation in due course.”

This comes after it was revealed work will soon begin to improve a new £1.14 million cycle and pedestrian path linking Chandler’s Ford with Chilworth.

Hampshire County Council were due to begin the work on Monday, November 18 and it is expected to be completed by Spring 2020.

The works will be carried out during off peak hours between 9.30am to 4pm under two-way traffic lights to minimise any disruption.