Plans to improve the cycle and footpath network around Norwich have been rubber-stamped, paving the way for the work to be completed by the end of the year.

Recommendations for the Connect2 cycle schemes at Gurney Road and Sprowston Road, north-east of the city, and Drayton Road, to the west, were all given the go ahead.

The recommendations were unanimously approved in a short meeting of the Norwich Highways Agency Committee at City Hall yesterday morning.

The scheme is being funded by money allocated to the city council from transport charity Sustrans' nationwide Connect2 project, which won funding from the Big Lottery to produce more dedicated foot and cycle routes in UK cities.

The funding was awarded to create a cycle and pedestrian route in the north-east of Norwich, which will link the east of the city with existing routes, including Marriott's Way.

The �185,000 project is part of �311,000 of the Connect2 money which the city council must spend by March next year - with �260,000 banked for a future route linking the city to Whitlingham Country Park via Riverside and a new bridge across the River Wensum to connect the Utilities site and Deal Ground near Trowse.

The city council was already working on an improved Norwich Cycle Network, which was approved in January, so officers decided to use the Connect2 money to expand the cycle network to include Mousehold Heath.

The scheme includes improving Valley Drive and connecting it to Gilman Road via Gurney Road, which will link the Open Academy school in Heartsease with Sewell Park College, in Constitution Hill, before continuing down Angel Road and Magdalen Street.

Work can now begin to create a 20mph zone in Gurney Road, as well as speed humps and the conversion of a footway to an un-segregated cycle track and footpath.

The route will then continue from Gilman Road onto Sprowston Road, where a right-turn lane will be created for cyclists. A pedestrian refuge will also be created, to help protect cyclists from oncoming traffic, which will see double yellow lines installed on either side to minimise traffic congestion.

Three objections were received in relation to this loss of roadside parking, so it has been agreed to remove 10m of double yellow lines on the south side of Gilman Road to allow for two parking spaces.

While the Drayton Road part of the project will see the Connect2 cycle route travel down Junction Road to join Dolphin Path and lead on to Marriott's Way at Drayton Road.

This will see a zebra crossing created across Drayton Road, close to the junctions with Junction Road and Havers Road, to connect with the existing Dolphin Path cycle track.

- What do you think of the plans? Write to Evening News Letters, Prospect House, Rouen Road, Norwich NR1 1RE or email eveningnewsletters@archant.co.uk