£600,000 for Billy Trail Upgrade – Winter 2023

The Hayling Billy Coastal Path is a track used by walkers, cyclists and horse riders along the bed of the old railway line between Havant and Hayling Island

£600,000 is being invested by Hampshire County Council (HCC) to create a new cycleway/footpath along The Billy Trail from the bridge to ESSO Beach for cyclists and walkers.

Surveying has just been completed this Autumn and, subject to weather conditions, work is scheduled to be finished in time for next year’s holiday season.  

In addition to a new hard surface, there will be a soft path for horses.

It is hoped that cyclists, from those with £3,000 road/racer machines to rugged off-road bikes, will be encouraged to leave the Havant Road to vehicle drivers, who will not then need to overtake on the ESSO straight.

Funding for the scheme has come in the form of a government grant for Active Travel, which means that Residents’ Council Tax will not be diverted to this project.

This is one of the 12 proposals Lance Quantrill, Hayling Island’s County Councillor, submitted for HCC’s Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan and Local Travel Plan 4.  For more details of his 12-point-plan contact Lance via office@havantconservatives.com or call 02392475066

Havant Borough Councillors, Brenda Linger and Julie Richardson, are working closely with Lance to develop further ideas to improve The Billy Line from ESSO Beach to West Lane then all the way down to the southern shoreline at Beachlands.

Watch this space – more news soon !