The scheme won planning approval from Allerdale Borough Council’s development panel at a meeting on Tuesday, subject to conditions.  

The new path will join on to the Maryport to Allonby Cycleway and will also be part of the wider Hadrian’s Cycleway on the National Cycleway Network, known as Route 72, extending from Ravenglass in Cumbria to South Shields in the north east.  

Allerdale Borough Council has taken the lead on the project which was developed by the Silloth-on-Solway Coastal Community Team. The council is part of the coastal community team which is a mix of public, private and community partners.  

The new path itself, much of which will also be suitable for pedestrians, will cost just under £1m with a total project cost of £1.25m. The coastal community team secured £1m from the Coastal Communities Fund which is administered by the Department for Communities and Local Government. 

The initiative forms part of Allerdale Borough Council’s drive to boost tourism across the west coast of the borough and its wider Visit Allerdale initiative. By encouraging people to use the cycleway it will also help promote a healthy activity for local residents and visitors alike.  

Getting people out and about on a bike or on foot will also have environmental benefits by reducing carbon emissions.  

Mark Jenkinson, deputy leader and executive member with responsibility for economic growth and tourism: “This is a fantastic project which will help bring more visitors to the area and really boost the economy in the Silloth and Allonby area.  

“This project has been a long-held ambition for the coastal community team and it’s wonderful that it is that much nearer to becoming a reality.  

“We've a few more things to sort out, but we look forward to seeing swathes of cyclists and walkers using the path in the future”  

The route is 14km in total with 4.63km ‘off road’ and 9.47km ‘on road’. The ‘on road’ sections of the route will utilise the existing carriageway and will include appropriate signage, markings and line painting.  

Research carried out by transport charity Sustrans has found that cycling tourism is worth £39m each year to Cumbria with Allerdale having many exceptional areas for cycling.