Hayling Island railway line to become all-weather walking and cycling trail

The Hayling Island Billy Trail links Havant with the south of Hayling Island

A disused railway line is to be upgraded to create an all-weather route for cyclists and walkers.

Hampshire County Council has agreed plans for the northern section of the Hayling Billy Trail.

The line links the centre of Havant to the south of Hayling Island and forms part of the Shipwrights Way from Farnham to Portsmouth.

It is also part of National Cycle Network 2 which, in the future, will create a route from Dover to Cornwall.

Countryside councillor Russell Oppenheimer approved the project, which will protect the north side of the trail from erosion and storm damage caused by being close to the sea.

He said: "One of the good things is that you will be able to go on the trail with more types of bike - you won't necessarily need a mountain bike because the surface will be much better."

The project is expected to cost about £600,000, using money from the Department for Transport's Active Travel Fund scheme, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The county council aims to create an all-weather surface between 2.5m and 3m wide for walkers and cyclists, with a separate unsurfaced bridle path.

Work will start in the summer to avoid disturbing the "nationally important populations" of over-wintering birds, the council said.

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