Designs for walking and cycling scheme drawn up

Framwellgate waterside is one of the locations where improvements are planned

Work to join up walking and cycling routes in a city as part of a £3.7m scheme is under way.

Detailed designs are being drawn up for the various sections of the project across Durham.

It aims to improve walking and cycling routes to main employment, education and tourist sites to encourage people to leave their cars at home, Durham County Council said.

Improvements are planned at Sidegate, Framwellgate Waterside, Freeman's Place, Walkergate, South Bailey, Quarryheads Lane, Stockton Road, and Whinney Hill.

Councillor Elizabeth Scott, cabinet member for economy and partnerships at Durham County Council, said the walking and cycling routes in the city were currently "fragmented".

She added: "This scheme will enable us to join up those routes, providing a continuous network with clearly marked cycling and pedestrian sections.

"It's one of several schemes we're delivering to make it safer and easier for people to leave the car at home and travel in and out of the city on foot or by bike."

The project is funded by £2.5m from the government's Transforming Cities Fund, with the council contributing a further £1.2m.

Once the designs have been completed, the project will go out to consultation and work is expected to be finished by March 2025.

As part of the project, improvements across the network would include enhancing flat kerbs, tactile and corduroy paving, crossing points, road markings, road signs, crossing facilities and flush surfaces.