Residents invited to information events on Oaklands Park walking and wheeling route
Residents and visitors are being invited to find out more about plans for a new walking, cycling and wheeling route through Oaklands Park, which will provide safer northsouth and east-west connections through Chichester.
Chichester District Council will hold a series of informal dropin events in Chichesters Oaklands Park play area on Tuesday 26, Wednesday 27 and Thursday 28 May, between 11am and 1pm. These sessions will give people the opportunity to see the proposed plans, ask questions, and speak directly with the councils Green Spaces team about the project and how it will support green travel around the city.
The proposed route would create a safe offroad path suitable for walking, wheeling and cycling. Designed to link the northeast of Chichester with the city centre and east-west to Broyle Road, it would improve access to key destinations including the University of Chichester and Chichester Festival Theatre, while complementing the park environment and the way it is currently used.
The council is also working with West Sussex County Council Highways to make sure the new path links well with sustainable transport improvements planned for Oaklands Way.
The information events follow a councilfunded study to assess whether the route is practical and deliverable, and build on earlier feedback, which showed strong public support for better walking and cycling routes in the area.
Tom Day, Divisional Manager for Environment and Health Protection at Chichester District Council, said: Plans for the new path through Oaklands Park have been shaped by residents feedback on the need for safer and more accessible walking, wheeling and cycling routes.
While the district council is not responsible for transport, we are committed to promoting greener ways to travel and supporting projects that improve air quality, including through reducing vehicle emissions. During a public consultation to gather peoples views on potential projects to include in our Climate Emergency Action Plan 20252030, residents told us that good walking and cycling routes would encourage them to use their cars less.
The route through Oaklands Park was previously identified as a way in which travel in and around the city could be made safer and easier for people to walk and cycle, including those using wheelchairs, pushchairs and mobility scooters. As the land is owned by the district council, we are in the fortunate position of being able to deliver this improvement and so this has been included as a key action within our adopted Climate Emergency Action Plan.
We were really pleased with the positive feedback received from residents, businesses and organisations to this initiative as part of our Climate Emergency Action Plan consultation. Since then, weve carried out a feasibility study and been working closely with key organisations, community groups and sports clubs, including Chichester Festival Theatre, Chichester Rugby Club, Chichester parkrun, and the Tennis Club, to understand how the park is used and to address any concerns or ideas.
The information sessions taking place during May half term are a chance for people to see the final plans, understand how the route would work, and to talk to our team. Its important to us that people are informed about whats being proposed, and Id encourage anyone who uses the park, or who might want to use the new path in the future, to come along and find out more.
The project supports the councils Chichester Local Plan, Climate Emergency Action Plan and Air Quality Action Plan. By helping to connect existing routes, it aims to make walking, wheeling and cycling easier and safer for our communities.
The path will help reduce car use for short, crosscity journeys; provide better allweather access to the rugby pitches, particularly for wheelchair users; support Chichester park run by providing a durable, wellsurfaced route that improves the running surface and access for participants, volunteers and spectators during periods of poor weather; improve offroad access to the parks newly refurbished destination play area; and strengthen connections between the park, Chichester Festival Theatre and the CFT Café.