WINCHESTER City Council has funded a new footpath as part of its Feet First campaign.

The new path at Gordon Avenue, Highcliffe, which cost £5,926, runs along a popular route regularly used by pedestrians and dog walkers. This path has been fully edged and tarmacked, which will enable year-round access by wheelchair users and buggies.

The route has improved pedestrian access and also created links to the walking network in the local area, which includes the South Downs Way.

The Feet First campaign, which will run this year and next year, aims to promote walking as the norm for short journeys, or as part of a longer journey.

Portfolio Holder for Environment, Health and Wellbeing at Winchester City Council, Frank Pearson, said: “I am pleased that as part of the Feet First campaign, which is designed to get more us walking and encourage us to make more of our journeys on foot, we were able to provide this missing footpath link.

In addition, it aims to create the context for change over a number of years so that people have direct, easy, safe, and pleasant routes encouraging them to want to walk to school, shops, work and public transport links as well as for leisure purposes.

It is also hoped that this new path will promote walking in the area, which will benefit the health and wellbeing of local residents.