Two new toucan crossings look set to be included in a major project which could finally see a designated cycle route created in Abbey Fields.

In March 2023 Warwick District Council’s (WDC) cabinet agreed to press forward with the scheme, choosing a preferred route which would see the path enter from the car park entrance on Bridge Street, go round the new leisure centre and up to Borrowell Lane. 

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

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.

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

The consultation was due to start in summer 2023 after the May elections, but was delayed due to "ongoing discussions" with Historic England.

WDC’s cabinet will next week discuss the details of the consultation and what locals will actually be asked for feedback on.

A report compiled before the meetings shows new toucan crossings on Bridge Street and Borrowell Lane (to replace the existing zebra crossing) are also being proposed.

These will connect the cycle route in Abbey Fields to the Kenilworth Greenway via Finham Brook at one end, and to the pedestrian link to Castle Farm at the other end.

Over the past 18 months council officers have also been working with Warwickshire County Council and Sustrans to discuss a number of other design issues.

Conversations are also ongoing about the new leisure centre which is seen as “integral” to the cycle route.

There also needs to be “detailed discussions” around the access point from Bridge Street to “understand the interactions of the different users at that point”.

If councillors sign off on the consultation next Thursday (December 5), the public consultation will then run for six weeks.

WDC anticipates the construction could start in spring 2026.