CYCLING enthusiasts are soldiering on with plans to link Alveston and Thornbury.

Thornbury Town Council says it is determined to see a cycle path between the village and the town to enable green-minded residents to hop on their bikes.

The idea of creating a cycle path between Alveston and Thornbury has been talked about for several years, but despite the best efforts of Thornbury Town Council it still has not become a reality.

Councillors hope to change the designation of an existing footpath that runs behind the Leisure Centre up Alveston Hill to allow cyclists.

Benj Emmerson, chairman of Thornbury Town Council’s environment committee, said: "It is quite a wide footpath at the moment but the designation would need changing and of course there would be a great deal of money involved.

"Alveston Hill is quite a narrow and steep stretch of road and you can see cyclists most days struggling to climb out of Thornbury towards Alveston.

"I think we would see an increase in cyclists if we were to provide an improved route. I think the road puts cyclists off."

The town council is in discussions with South Gloucestershire Council about the project, as well as Alveston Parish Council and Marlwood School, because there are children who live in Thornbury but attend the secondary school in Alveston, who might benefit from a cycle path to get to school.

Thornbury Town Council has also been in contact with Cycling City, which is a joint project between South Gloucestershire Council and Bristol City Council to get more people on their bikes.

The two councils were given £11.4 million by the government last June to help establish a safe cycling infrastructure, but so far the proposed routes to do not go to Thornbury.

"We have written to Cycling City to see if there is any chance the scheme might be extended further out to us.

"Thornbury has a good number of cyclists that might benefit," said Cllr Emmerson.