A £1.65 million scheme to deliver a traffic-free link between Burtonwood and Omega has edged closer to reality.

The shared-use path aims to provide a new route between the village and Omega, along Clay Lane and Burtonwood Road.

A shared use path permits all types of non-vehicular travel such as walking, cycling and mobility scooters.

The council’s cabinet awarded the construction contract for the path and approved the budget for the project at its meeting on Monday.

Cllr Hans Mundry, portfolio holder for transportation, highways and public realm, told members the scheme is aligned with the transport strategy set out in the recently approved local transport plan four.

He said: “The main aim of the scheme is to provide people with a choice about how they travel on each journey, encourage healthy lifestyles by increasing day to day activity, improving safety for all highway users, develop a resilient and effective transport network and support the town’s growth.”

Council leader Cllr Russ Bowden says the main concerns coming from residents have been around traffic congestion, air quality and the impact on the environment.

He added: “The only way you get people to change their behaviour is to put the infrastructure in place and to give them a genuine choice.”

The new path will require land to be acquired from landowners to the south and west side of Burtonwood Road and Clay Lane, as the existing road is not wide enough to accommodate it.

The estimated cost to deliver the scheme, including a risk allowance for the construction phase, totals £1.65 million.

The council will put £900,000 towards the project, with £500,000 to come from the Cheshire and Warrington growth deal and £250,000 from developer contributions.

Further details, including the name of the company which will complete the work, were discussed in part two in private.