Woodbridge: Funding secured for Dutch-style cycle networks

Roundabouts that give priority to cyclists over motorists appear all over the Netherlands

A town is to get two Dutch-style cycle networks after funding was secured from the government.

In total £7.9m has been awarded to Suffolk County Council from the government's Active Travel Scheme for seven projects across the county, the authority said.

Two "Mini-Holland" cycling systems will be built in Woodbridge.

Other traffic measures have been earmarked for Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds and Felixstowe.

More than £5m will be spent in the Suffolk town of Woodbridge

Conservative councillor, Richard Smith, the cabinet member for economic development, transport strategy and waste, said the networks would "help people travel sustainably".

"We welcome this funding and look forward to investing it in projects that will help protect and enhance our environment," he added.

The largest slice of the cash - £4m - will be spent on a "Mini-Holland" scheme in the centre of Woodbridge, with an additional £1.1m for plans in the south of the town, the council said.

More than £1m will also be spent on an active travel scheme between Ipswich Hospital and the University of Suffolk campus, with a further £105,149 going towards other traffic measures in Ipswich.

An east-west route for Bury St Edmunds will also be given £105,149 and more than £1.3m has been earmarked for Grange Road in Felixstowe.

A similar Dutch roundabout scheme was built in Cambridge in 2020

The money will look at redesigning junctions to make them safer for cyclists and pedestrians, as well as reducing the number of roads used by vehicles in the town centre.

Cambridge opened the UK's first Dutch-style roundabout, which gives priority to cyclists and pedestrians, in 2020.