Mansfield residents are being encouraged to have their say on the new £665,000 cycle network on track to come to the town later this Autumn.

Local people are being asked to decide on seven potential routes as part of three public consultation events being held this month.

The routes have been designed by Via East Midlands, on behalf of Nottinghamshire County Council, with members of the Via team on hand to discuss these plans and answer any questions.

The events will be held at the following locations and dates:

• Thursday 6 July at Mansfield Woodhouse Library 2.30pm until 6.30pm
• Saturday 8 July Mansfield Central Library 10am until 2pm
• Wednesday 12 July Kingsway Hall, Forest Town 10am until 2pm

The proposed seven new routes are at Leeming Lane North to New Mill Lane, Woodhouse/ Bull Farm, Maun Valley Trail, Oak Tree Lane, Pump Hollow Road to the town centre with 20mph schemes proposed at both Ladybrook and Mansfield Woodhouse.

Councillor John Cottee, chairman of Nottinghamshire County Council’s communities and place committee, welcomed the consultations. He said:

“We want to hear from Mansfield residents to help us with our plans for a new cycle network.

“It’s vital that those who will use and benefit from the cycle network have their say in the final decision on which of these seven new cycle routes will be constructed.

“As Mansfield gears up to host the start of the Tour of Britain race on 6 September, we hope this and the new cycle network will also inspire more local residents of all ages to get out about on their bikes, helping them to keep fit and healthy by cycling in the great Nottinghamshire outdoors.

“The new cycle network will aim to reduce local congestion and improve air quality by providing cyclists with safer, quicker and more connected routes within the town.

“And for those who don’t currently cycle, we hope that this significant improvement to the current choice of cycle lanes will make getting on a bike to work a more viable and attractive option.”

The work is due to begin this Autumn with £665,000 earmarked to this scheme thanks to Local Growth Funding via D2N2. It is the first part of the three-year Government funded ‘Get Moving Nottinghamshire’ Access Fund programme in Mansfield that aims to get more people walking and cycling on short journeys to work, school and to local services.

Copies of the plans will be available at both libraries for those unable to go along on the day, so they can still have their say.

And from Thursday, people can view the plans online and feedback their views by going to www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/MansfieldCycleNetwork

The public consultation period will run to the end of July 2017