Plans to put in place traffic-free pathways linking green spaces has received a funding pledge from a town council.

The Comet: A photo of the Biggleswade Green Wheel, which the new Green Wheel would resembleA photo of the Biggleswade Green Wheel, which the new Green Wheel would resemble (Image: Archant)

The Green Wheel Masterplan wants to improve biodiversity and access to green spaces by putting off-road pathways between green spaces in Arlesey, Stotfold and Fairfield.

Arlesey Town Council pledged on Tuesday to give £1,500 out of the £8,000 they need to fund the project’s feasibility assessment.

Cliff Andrews, from Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity (BRCC), said: “We want to have Arlesey, Stotfold and Fairfield as the centre with pathways leading off to the surrounding area.

“It will cost around £8,000 to carry out a viability survey and we want all the town councils involved to pledge a proportion of the money. It’s about improving public access to more areas for more people to enjoy and it’s also about looking for ways to improve the environment and heritage of an area.”

Cllr David West supported the plan and said: “We need to get people involved in this because we want to get it underway before any other development could affect the routes.”

The network of pathways aim to identify a number of natural, cultural and green spaces in the area and connect them for the benefit of residents.

Mr Andrews has said the project’s paths will most likely converge at Etonbury Wood off Stotfold Road in Arlesey and have paths, acting like spokes of a wheel, coming off it to the surrounding the area.

“If all the funding is received work will be undertaken to access suitable areas between Arlesey, Stotfold and Fairfield with a draft masterplan proposed in late 2014 or early 2015,” he said.

He added that the proposed paths would be free from development meaning they would unaffected by the Arlesey Masterplan, a potential large scale development in the area which included the building of 1,000 homes.