THOUSANDS of pounds are to be spent on improving pedestrian routes linking villages in the Severn vale.

South Gloucestershire Council has announced two footpath schemes totalling £120,000, which it hopes to start building in the summer subject to public consultation.

The first is the £60,000 second phase of the Down Road footpath between Old Down and Alveston.

The first phase, between Old Down and Upper Hazel Farm, was completed earlier this year, but a second section will extend the footpath from the farm up to White Cottage.

Cllr Matthew Riddle, South Gloucestershire councillor for the Severn ward, said the progress of the second phase was good news for the local community.

He said: "It is great to see progress is being made by the council on drawing up the second phase. I have had a lot of positive feedback from residents about the first phase, particularly how it looks very in-keeping with the rural setting.

"I would encourage residents to feed in their comments to the council as part of this consultation on the next phase of this much-needed new footpath."

The second scheme South Gloucestershire Council is promoting is a new footpath along the B4055 Marsh Common Road between Pilning and Easter Compton.

This £64,000 stretch of footpath will count as phase one and two of the project and will run from Horse Bridge and Chequers Farm. A third phase continuing on to Pilning will be built later subject to funding.

New Conservative councillor for Pilning and Severn Beach Robert Griffin said: "I’m glad to see the council begin a consultation on this important local road safety scheme and their plans for road resurfacing works to be carried out at the same time.

"Joining up the two sets of works should keep disruption for residents down to a minimum."

The consultation on the Old Down to Alveston footpath extension is open until Friday, June 10 and the new B4055 footpath consultation is open until Friday, June 17.

To view both schemes in full visit www.southglos.gov.uk