A MAP detailing the route of a mostly traffic-free walking and cycling route connecting Uley through to Cam and Dursley station has been published.

Development of the five-mile greenway project has been underway for more than a decade with a team of volunteers working with landowners to create the path.

With assistance from Gloucestershire county council, Stroud district Council and parish councils, the team has now produced a route from Uley through to the railway station with the ultimate goal of it connecting with the national cycle route at Slimbridge.

The project is being spearheaded by Phil Littleford who took up the mantle of completing the greenway following the death of his father Bob who kicked it off 12 years ago.

He said: “The Greenway will link the communities of Cam, Dursley and Uley and others from further afield providing improved access to shops, schools, transport links and public amenities.”

Parish and district councillors together with members of Vale Vision and others make up the 12-strong project team. 

Amongst them is Dursley GP Simon Opher who said that the greenway would “transform” the health of people living in the area.

“Physical activity and losing weight are two of the biggest health benefits that we can achieve and cycling is one of the best ways of doing this,” he said.

“There is a lot of evidence linking cycling to living longer and improving our health. 

“The main reason that children and adults don’t cycle is dangerous roads. 

“The proposed cycle path will transform the health of our locality and reduce pollution as well. We must make this happen.”

In its budget for the 2017/18 year, Stroud District Council set aside £300,000 to promote more sustainable transport in the district and much of this is being used to support the work of the Cam, Dursley and Uley Greenway which is one of two main projects it is prioritising.

Support from a specialist officer at the council officer is also being provided to the volunteers to help progress the project.

District councillor and vice chairman of its environment committee Paul Denney, (Lab, Cam West), who is also a member of the project’s team, said: “It’s really exciting to see the greenway’s route marked out on the ground for all to see. 

“It’s been a long time coming and it will be a while yet before it’s done but it’s a real testament to all the hard work and persistence of Phil and all those on the greenway team who are making this happen. 

“As we have seen with the canal project in Stroud, it’s the volunteers who are making all the difference. 

“They have got together, got organised and they are doing the work that councils are struggling to do in these cash-strapped times. 

“By bringing together the expertise of the council and the enthusiasm of the volunteers we can make great things happen. 

“The greenway stands as a blueprint for others and it is one that is already being copied”. 

The planned route makes uses of a mixture of existing bridleways and footpaths and sections of road as well as purpose-built stretches funded by housing developers at the Littlecombe site in Dursley and in north east Cam.