THE first move towards creating a safer network of cycle routes in Haslemere was made at last week’s Waverley Local Committee.

A proposal by town county councillor Nikki Barton to make public footpath 19 between Weydown Road car park and Bunch Lane dual use, was overwhelmingly supported by the committee.

Surrey County Council’s cycle tracks order for the route will now be advertised and if there are objections, it will go to the Secretary of State for Transport for determination.

Mrs Barton is offering £7,000 from her highways allocation to fund surface improvements, signs and additional barriers beside the stream to make the footpath suitable for dual use.

Haslemere Town Council, The Ramblers Association and South Downs National Park Authority are among those backing the scheme, but there have been some objections it will disadvantage walkers and is not value for money.

Alastair Bayliss, who led two successful Haslemere critical mass cycle rides this year to flag up road safety concerns, spoke out to urge the committee to approve the order be made.

Mr Bayliss said: “If cycling is to increase in the town, we have to start somewhere. The public want to cycle but they are afraid.”

Mrs Barton told the committee: “The opportunity exists for a cycle network. The criticism is this will be a small isolated track, but it could be the first of a wider network that will be improved when funding is available.”

Western villages Tory vice-chairman Cllr David Harmer said: “If the intention is for a network, it would be desirable to take a short component to see how it works. There appears to be genuine support for this.”