Trees face the chop as part of £500k cycle path revamp

The Solar System cycle route, which runs from York to Selby, is to close as the path undergoes an upgrade.

The path will shut from January 7 until February 1 while the transport charity Sustrans undertakes the work.

The charity is working with City of York Council, which earlier this year confirmed that £500,000 will be spent upgrading the Route 65 cycle path.

Work will involve felling several white poplar trees near York Racecourse and on the Solar System path in order to make improvements to parts of the route that are between 20 and 30 years old.

Sustrans and the council are working together to arrange an alternative route for cyclists and walkers while the work is carried out.

Residents who use the path between the A64 and Bishopthorpe are now being urged to attend a meeting at Brunswick Organic Nursery from midday until 3pm on Saturday, December 8, to learn about the improvements.

A spokesman for Sustrans said that the number of trees to be felled has not yet been confirmed.

Cllr Peter Dew, executive member for highways and transport at City of York Council, said: “This is part of a £500,000 improvement scheme for the Route 65 cycle track between Skelton and the southern end of Naburn.

“We are supporting the scheme with charity Sustrans, which is carrying out the work.

“Part of the track improvement includes replacing diseased trees and those whose roots are creating hazards to track users, with new saplings. These will be native fruiting species and will be planted further away from the path. Similar work is also scheduled between the former Naburn Station and Moor Lane.”

A spokesman for Sustrans said: “The path has been damaged by roots so to resurface it we will need to take out some trees. We will replace them with smaller trees that are more suitable to a linear route. Please come along to our drop in session this Saturday to find out more.”

For more information visit www.sustrans.org.uk/ncn/map/route/york-to-selby.