WORK looks set to take place this year at long last to put a proper cycle path and footway on Peewit Hill at Felixstowe - paid for by the port owners.

WORK looks set to take place this year at long last to put a proper cycle path and footway on Peewit Hill at Felixstowe - paid for by the port owners.

The project is part of a larger scheme in the area to encourage portworkers to cycle and walk to and from work to cut down on car travel and improve the environment.

Town councillors are thrilled with the work to be done at Peewit Hill, where the council has a nature reserve.

The resurfacing will cost around �70,000 plus a further �15,000 for improvements for cyclists and pedestrians in the immediate area - money the port is contributing as part of its package of measures for the community agreed as part of its expansion.

Peewit Hill runs from Grange Road to Dock Gate One roundabout, linking the big estates of Cavendish Park, Grange Farm, Orwell Green and the Coronation Estate to the main area of the port.

Town clerk Susan Robinson said the paths down Peewit Hill would be properly surfaced, the drainage problems sorted out and lights would also be installed.

There would be safety railings at the bottom to ensure people on cycles did not shoot out onto the roundabout or the slip road to the Haven Exchange industrial estate, and bollards at the top to prevent cars using the hill.

Previously there had been problems with noisy 4x4 vehicles using hill and breaking it up.

Mrs Robinson said it would not be possible to prevent motorcycles using it but they were not a major problem.

“We can only applaud this scheme - it will improve the hill, make access up and down much easier and the improvements to the drainage are very welcome indeed,” she said.

The hill will link with other new cycle paths in the area, including a widening of the path next to Grange Primary School and a new route being mapped across the estate to take riders over the �500,000 bridge over the A14 Port of Felixstowe Road for those working at the Blofield and Parker Avenue business parks.

The cycleway at the bottom of Wesel Avenue round into Trinity Avenue has also been improved to link up with Dock Gate Two.