RESIDENTS have thrown their backing behind plans for a footpath and cycleway in Arnside.

Four out of five people in the town have given the thumbs up to a footpath cycleway to be added to Arnside Viaduct - with youngsters from Arnside School unanimously supporting the project.

Following a local survey, support group Arnside to Grange (ATOG) is now hoping to get the scheme included in the Cumbria Local Transport Plan and is currently working with national cycling charity Sustrans to try and further the project.

Residents have said that the addition of the walkway and cyclepath would be a ‘huge asset’ to the area and would enable various long distance routes such as the coastal path and national cycle network to avoid having to go around the top of the estuary and avoid the A590.

It would also form a ‘valuable’ link between Grange and Arnside.

But concerns have been aired about the shortage of car parking in Arnside.

It was hoped that some of the work could be done while Network Rail contractors carried out refurbishment work on the viaduct this summer, although it will now have to be carried out at a later date.

Repairs to the Arnside viaduct started this week and will last for four months.

And essential maintenance work, which started on Monday for 16 weeks, means no trains will run between Barrow and Carnforth.

Replacement bus services will operate between all stations on the Furness Line and there will be an additional service to Oxenholme.