Improvements to Cycling and Walking Routes

Braunstone Town Council is working with Leicester City Council, Blaby District Council, Leicestershire County Council and Sustrans on a plan to jointly invest around £1.2million in a range of improvements to create a safer and more attractive route for pedestrians and cyclists between New Lubbesthorpe, through Thorpe Astley and Meridian, into Braunstone Town and on to the Great Central Way and Leicester City Centre.

The City Council led scheme is backed by over £600,000 of funding from the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP) through the Leicester and Leicestershire Business Rates Pool fund.  In addition, £450,000 funding has been secured from the Department for Transport’s Paths for Everyone scheme with our delivery partner Sustrans.

The proposals involve a range of improvements to create a safer and more attractive route for pedestrians and cyclists through Braunstone Town, Thorpe Astley and Meridian as follows:

Meridian Way

Proposals:

1. Widening the footpath from 1.5m to 3m between the Murby Way and Foxon Way roundabouts 
2. Narrowing of road crossing distances at the roundabouts at Murby Way and Foxon Way to create safer crossings at these junctions 
3. Narrowing of the crossing distances at the northern arms of the 2 roundabouts over A563 Lubbesthorpe Way to help all users cross at these junctions
   

Progress:

• Designs completed and being assessed for safety stage
• Once approved - trial to test capacity and design

Delivery:

• Estimated Start date for works: January 2025
• Estimated Completion May 2025

Meridian Leisure (which will be delivered as part of a project coordinated by its owners Savills)

Proposals:

1. new path and access between Chiquito restaurant and Vue cinema onto Mossdale Meadows to allow users to to have a connected route between Meridian Way,Thorpe Astley and Mossdale Meadows, Braunstone Town
2. CCTV enhancements
3. signage improvements

Progress:

• Work Commenced in June 2023
• Stage 1 & 2 complete
• Stage 3 to be delivered

Delivery:

• Stage 3 due to be completed by Spring 2024

Mossdale Meadows

Proposals:

1. Widening of the footpath from 1.5m to 3m from Kingsway to connection with Meridian Leisure, and vegetation clearance to improve visibility on blind corners to provide an enhanced pedestrian and cycle route
2. lighting to be installed to create a more attractive and safer environment for all users
3. additional CCTV installed
4. Signage improvements through the park for walkers and cyclists
5. To improve problems with flooding at car park entrance from Kingsway -not included in the original works but Braunstone Town Council is aware of the issues and proposes to install drainage work to the car park and resurfacing of the car park.

Progress:

• Work commenced in February 2023
• Stage 1 - 3 complete, subject to minor snagging
• Stage 4 to be delivered
• Drainage plans have been comissioned and tender documents prepared for quotations to undertake the proposed work to the car park drainage

Delivery:

• Stages 1 - 3 delivered
• Stage 4 due to be completed by Spring 2025

• Drainage Work to Car Park (outside scheme):  Tenders received and preferred contractor selected.   Public Consultation September / October 2024, Borrowing Application November 2024, Work to commence Spring 2025.

Kingsway

Proposals:

1. Creation of new 3m footpath to allow easier access from the western to the eastern side of the Kingsway
2. Widening of footpath from 1.5m to 3m in the vicinity of the Narborough Road South underpass
3. Creation of new 3m path to provide improved access from the Kingsway to Aylestone Meadows 

Progress:

• Awaiting Lighting Assessment, Technical Approval and agreement for dropped kerbs from Leicestershire County Council
• Blaby District Council have agreed works over the green space

Delivery:

• Estimated Start date for works: January 2025
• Estimated Completion May 2025

Aylestone Meadows

Proposals:

1. Improvement to the existing boardwalk and access at Kingsway, to provide a better access to the Meadows for all users
2. New 3.5m path across Aylestone Meadows, connecting onto existing track for pedestrians and cyclists
3. Resurfacing of existing track to a width of 3.5m, up to Braunstone Lane East.

Progress:

• Stage 2 & 3 complete;
• stage 1, new Boardwalk to be delivered by specialist contractor.

Delivery:

• Estimated Start date for Boardwalk and access works: October 2024
• Estimated Completion December 2024

Town Council Leader, Councillor Nick Brown, states “with our Climate Change & Environmental Strategy, the Town Council is committed to working with our partners across the City, District and County to deliver infrastructure improvements which will support our residents to safely walk and cycle both within our Town and beyond to access local facilities, services and employment”.

Route Overview Map (PDF)

More information about this scheme and the other Transforming Cities Fund Projects in and around Leicester is available on Leicester City Council's website.    Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.    Telephone: (0116) 454 2461.

Updated: September 2024