The new hard surfacing on the road out of Alresford is actually a cycle path. It is a section linking the Itchen Valley to Tichborne Down and is part of the National Cycle Route 23, being developed in close liaison with SUSTRANS the national cycling charity.
The expenditure was in the main from Sustrans and I can assure you that none of this money could have been used for other projects in Alresford, or the surrounding villages. I have never been asked for a cycle path there, and frankly couldn't see the need for it, and therefore, consistently refused to support it financially from local contribution.
However, once it was a 'done deal' I contacted local cycling groups, other cyclists and New Alresford Town Council and they were involved in the design. As a result of this we have managed to get some improvements to the footpaths on the Alresford side of the crossroads.
Actually, now it is finished, in theory, as the road is narrower and there is a new traffic island, the traffic speeds should be lower. The lit sign was returned again for a fortnight (the maximim allowed at one time) to warn drivers but it also counts the number of cars speeding so that will test if the theory is correct.
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