Work towards the proposed cycleway in Abbey Fields has been delayed due to "ongoing discussions" with Historic England.

It is a year since Warwick District Council's cabinet approved plans to launch a six-week consultation on the town centre cycling scheme.

The consultation was promised for summer 2023, after the local elections, but no firm date for when it will start has been confirmed.

If it goes ahead, the cycleway will connect the northern and southern ends of National Cycle Network route 52 within Abbey Fields.

The council's report from March 2023 put forward five possible routes through the park, although one preferred option was indicated.

This would see the path enter Abbey Fields from the car park entrance on Bridge Street, go round the new leisure centre and up to Borrowell Lane. 

Despite calls from locals and Kenilworth Town Council, the path would be shared by cyclists and pedestrians.

Five possible routes were suggested by the report (image via Warwick District Council)

But updating members at the most recent Kenilworth Town Council meeting, Cllr Andrew Milton says the public consultation is still some weeks away.

“It is currently being delayed because they [WDC] are awaiting discussions with Historic England," he said.

"A preferred route was put forward, Historic England have put forward some changes in one particular area, and we are now awaiting a further meeting.

"They are still hoping the consultation will happen in April or May.

"So hopefully soon we will see some progress on that."

The then Conservative-run cabinet at WDC last year unanimously backed the scheme, with councillors saying it was important to gauge the views of locals.

Once the consultation is complete, the district council will refine the design and bring forward a full plan for consideration, should locals be in favour of the scheme.