A district councillor has said he wishes the council could "just get on with" plans to build a new cycle path in Abbey Fields.

Warwick District Council's (WDC) cabinet has backed plans for a public consultation on the scheme, over a year after it chose a preferred route.

Locals will soon be able to have their say on the design for the cycleway which could see the path enter from the car park entrance on Bridge Street, go round the new leisure centre and up to Borrowell Lane. 

Two new toucan crossings could also be included in the scheme.

Speaking at last week's WDC cabinet meeting, Cllr Alan Boad said: "I just wish we could get on with this. 

"This has been going on for so long. 

"You are going to have both sides there, both stirred up saying 'we don't want it anywhere around here, stick to the roads' and others saying 'we want direct routes for the school kids which are safe'.  

"Both are reasonable but it's up to us to decide which is more essential. 

"It will be interesting to see what the consultation comes out with.

"I won't hold my breath but I hope those who want it actually turn out to do the consultation more than those who don't want it."

A council report last year put forward five possible routes through the park, with one preferred option chosen.

The project will effectively see many of the existing paths widened to three metres to allow for walkers and cyclists to use it together - despite calls from locals and Kenilworth Town Council.

But before any construction actually starts, the Kenilworth public is due to be consulted on the plans once again.

Cllr Lowell Williams said: "I have some sympathy with his [Cllr Boad's] frustration."

He added: "This is quite a sensitive and difficult thing to do.

"It does have to be done properly. 

"I can assure the cabinet there is a very good working relationship between Sustrans, and the county and ourselves to get the route absolutely right."

The consultation was due to start in summer 2023 after the May elections.

But the project has been slowed by Historic England and its concerns about the impact across Abbey Fields.

The public consultation will then run for six weeks.

WDC anticipates the construction could start in spring 2026.