MORE Dorset residents will be able to get active as part of their daily lives thanks to a new cycleway in Blandford.

Starting on Monday, July 20 for around six weeks, Dorset County Council will widen the footway from St Leonards Avenue along Black Lane to Downside Close to upgrade the route into a shared use cycleway and footpath.

This will connect to the cycleway from Damory Court Street to the junction of Wimborne Road with St Leonards Avenue, which was completed in 2014.

Access to the town centre and Archbishop Wake Primary School will also be improved.

Cllr Barrie Cooper, county councillor for the Blandford ward, said: “This cycleway will provide a safe route for children to cycle or scoot to school and will hopefully benefit the whole community by giving us more travel options of how to get into town.

“In liaison with the town council – because of the location of the cycleway – we have chosen to carry out the work during the school holidays.

“Although this may still cause some inconvenience to drivers, it will be much less than if we were carrying out the work during term time.”

Work to build the cycleway will be carried out Monday to Friday between 7.30am and 5pm, with the possibility of work on Saturday mornings.

Two-way temporary traffic signals will be in place on Black Lane 24 hours a day, seven days a week until the cycleway is finished.

This will maintain pedestrian access but may cause some delay to drivers.