Work is just being completed today to erect beautiful oak sign posts through Sutton Park to signpost walkers, cyclists and the disabled along the main Sustrans National Cycle Network routes 535 and 534 (which meet at Holly Hurst) and also the directions to the various park Gates and the Visitor Centre. This work, part of the Sustrans/BCC/Big Lottery Connect2 scheme, forms one of the missing links between the existing route 535, which runs from Banners Gate to Birmingham City Centre, and Sutton Coldfield town centre.

The last post going in at Wydley Gate

A newly installed post at Town Gate

Works have also commenced to create a new shared walking and cycling path between Wydley Gate and Clifton Road. This section passes the newly opened BMX/Skateboard park at Wydley Leisure Centre

The final section of route 534 between Sutton Park and New Hall Valley Country Park through Sutton Coldfield town centre is due to commence construction soon.

The latest section of Connect2 route is now open between Pype Hayes Park and the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal at Egerton Road (The red dashed section on the OpenCycleMap extract below). The route is mostly off road though joins some residential roads in the Pype Hayes estate. For those travelling from the north this section is now the shortest route for getting to the canal and on into  Birmingham.

The new section is signed (533) towards the canal and (534) towards Pype Hayes Park. National Cycle Network route 533 is the new route that will run along the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal towpath from Minworth to Salford Junction (Spaghetti) and ultimately onwards to Digbeth via the Warwick and Birmingham Junction Canal/Grand Union canal (Part of the Heartlands Canal Ring).

Map extract from OpenCycleMap (OpenStreetMap data cc-by-sa 2.0)

The new Toucan crossing at Tyburn Road

The Birmingham and Fazeley canal at Egerton Road (Adjacent to KFC, Kingsbury Road)

We had a fantastic turnout on Bank Holiday Monday 29th August despite an unseasonably chilling wind with walkers and cyclists arriving from around the region before the new section of route through Pype Hayes Park was officially opened by Councillor Timothy Huxtable, BCC Cabinet Member for Transportation and Regeneration. Cyclists came in from Solihull to join the celebrations and Friends of Rectory Park walkers used the new routes to reach Pype Hayes from Rectory Park. New Hall Mill was thereafter very busy searing refreshments and great interest was show an the event stands in Pype Hayes Park and New Hall Mill.

Those organisations involved included, BCC, Sustrans & its volunteer rangers, Eco Sutton, Ramblers Association, Birmingham Trees For Life & SE Fitness,

At the event, BCC launched the Bike North Birmingham programme and the latest Public Consultation Document for the next section of walking and cycling route through Sutton Town Centre.

Thanks to all who turned out and those that helped and made it such a fantastic day!

The consultation response can also be filled in and submitted online rather
than using the FREEPOST form attached to the consultation document.

Plans are well advanced now for the Walking and Cycling Day 10 till 4 on August bank Holiday Monday 29th. An early draft of whats planned can be found here and the promotional signs as below are going up to day. Hope to see lots there on Monday!

Andy Robinson has created a new map of the open sections of cycle route (NCN534). You can download a high resolution PDF version copy from here

Well done to Richard Leonard and the BCC and stakeholder team that has successfully secured the LSTF 'Bike North Birmingham' Small Scheme Bid.