An off-road diversion for walkers, cyclists and horse riders will now be provided when the cycle track from Sandown is closed at the start of May.
The popular track will be closed between Sandown’s Golf Links Road and the Alverstone crossing for a period of 6 months from around 4th May.
As previously reported by Island Echo, work is being undertaken by Southern Water as part of a project to protect a threatened eel.
It was originally said that the only diversion would be via the country lanes that flow through the Adgestone and Alverstone area. However, an alternative has now been confirmed thanks to work between Southern Water, the Isle of Wight Council’s Rights of Way team and the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust.
The off-road diversion will see users divert via a bridleway and footpath to the south of the track. Preparation work will begin on 19th April and will be in place by 4th May when the track itself will close for the eel protection works to begin. Whilst the diversion route is not a cycle track and therefore not suitable for everyone, it does provide a countryside router for cyclists, horse riders and pedestrians, which is a better alternative than the road.
The co-operation of the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, which owns the land, means that users will still be able to use this area during the summer months.
So, all you have to do, is use the footpath which runs parallel to the cycle track.
You don’t need a weather man to know which way the wind blows!