Westmorland and Furness Council has announced a new 1.4-mile route for walking, wheeling and cycling to transform journeys between Vickerstown Park and Earnse Bay on North Walney.
Walney Island is next to Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria.
Council members, funders from Active Travel England and the project team responsible for delivering the scheme, joined contractor AE Yates in Vickerstown Park to mark its opening.
Designed for all ages and abilities, the new infrastructure provides a vehicle-free space, enabling people to choose active travel as their mode of transport across the island.
The continuous route weaves through the green spaces of Vickerstown Park, passing the green bowls club, Park Vale Sports Stadium, a playground and skatepark, before reaching the future site of the Earnse Hub by the coast. It links the communities of Trent Vale and West Shore to Jubilee Bridge, providing better access to growing employment and education opportunities across Barrow-in-Furness.
Constructed within existing verge space between West Shore Road and Trent Vale, it fully separates pedestrians and cyclists from vehicles, minimising disruption for road users.
The former path through ‘the cut’ and Vickerstown Park has been widened to 3m and resurfaced to improve accessibility. Additional upgrades include new seating areas, improved bus stops, crossings and traffic calming measures that will enhance safety for all.
Energy-efficient street-lighting columns have also been introduced along the route. These installations are part of the council’s newly-announced lighting policy that aims to enhance community safety, increase energy efficiency and reduce light pollution through modern infrastructure.
The design was shaped by feedback from residents, disability and inclusion organisations, community and cycle user groups and blue light services during a public consultation held in May 2023.
The council hopes to encourage more people to opt for walking, wheeling, and cycling, reducing reliance on cars for short trips and contributing to a healthier, low-carbon transport network.
Cllr John Murray, Cabinet Member for Transport and Regulatory Services at Westmorland and Furness Council, said: “This new 1.4-mile route marks a significant milestone in our efforts to make Walney Island a more connected, sustainable, and accessible place for all. The infrastructure improvements will not only provide a safe, car-free environment for people of all ages and abilities to walk, wheel, and cycle, but it will also offer a direct and enjoyable way to reach key places across the Island.
“By investing in better paths, lighting, crossings, and traffic calming measures, we are making active travel the easiest and safest option for everyday journeys. This is a real step forward and we look forward to seeing how this new route will transform daily travel for everyone.”
The £1.8m scheme has been funded by the Department for Transport’s Active Travel Fund, which has ring-fenced monies to improve infrastructure that will encourage active journeys across the area.
Graham Grant, Active Travel England deputy chief executive officer, said: “The new Vickerstown Park and Earnse Bay route is a prime example of how well-designed and accessible active travel networks can transform connectivity across communities.
“This scheme will ensure Walney residents and visitors can safely and confidently choose to walk, wheel and cycle to where they need to be, whether that’s to work, school, the shops or just out and about for some fresh air and exercise.
“We’re proud to be funding this project and we’ll continue to work with local authorities across the country to build high-quality active travel infrastructure that makes our towns, cities and villages, happier, healthier and greener places to live.”
While the majority of the North Walney route is now open, small sections of the route require the finishing touches, with West Shore Road set to be fully completed following essential Cadent gas works.
The Council is now gearing up to start construction on the next investment on Abbey Road, marking another step toward achieving Barrow’s active travel ambitions. In June 2025, the 0.7-mile cycling and walking route will be built primarily in footway space from Ramsden Square to the Park Drive junction, expanding the towns network of dedicated infrastructure.
