New sustainable route welcomed by Peterborough cyclists
William Sloane, a local resident, said the layout was better than before and hoped other cycle paths along the city's Green Wheel would also be improved.
Jim, who used the route for the first time, described it as "good" and called for "more of these around the city".Fellow cyclist Izzy said he came to try the path after hearing it had opened. "So far, so good," he said. "Hopefully it will encourage more people to cycle and reduce pollution."
Sue, who lives in the Longthorpe area, says the new crossing could have been better placed."I love the way the cycle path is so clearly signed and separated from the pavements and keep pedestrians safe," she said."But I don't think the crossing is at the right place. I would have liked it to be a bit further up near the bus stop as well."I walk a lot around the city so I think even better having more of these around the city."I think we have such a beautiful city with so many green areas. So to try linking them bit by bit would be good."
Councillor Angus Ellis, cabinet member for the environment and transport at Peterborough City Council, previously said: "Thorpe Wood is a key link to areas of employment and leisure and the project will be a significant improvement to those that use the route."The new infrastructure will also link in to the new pedestrian and cycle bridge over the Nene Parkway and provide a seamless transition between Longthorpe and Thorpe Wood."Other major developments with strong active-travel components in the city include the £48m Peterborough Station Quarter project and around £400,000 in grants for feasibility and early design work on 16 potential new cycling routes.
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"People who come for a weekend are surprised when I hand them a bin liner and say it needs to come back off with them - but no-one comes here to collect the bins." As a former CEO, Mr Conner described his time on the island as "incredible" as he had to let go of everyday routines."We all often live by a calendar of scheduled meetings, but the island is the complete opposite - it's off grid. It feels real time, it feels like living."Time stops on the island, Mr Conner said, adding that with something always going on, people tended to put their phones away."I think that's what makes Thorne a special place, that people are present." Originally from Gloucestershire, Mr Conner does not live on the island but as the primary contractor spent a lot of time there during the renovation process. He initially juggled running his business alongside the venture, but sold his software company two years ago. "It was quite cathartic for me to have this parallel life of complete chaos, which particularly through Covid was quite awesome." The project also lifted the lid on Mr Conner's personal heritage too, as it was not until he got the keys did he discover he is in fact a quarter Welsh, as his mum grew up at Upton Castle, Pembroke Dock. Speaking of the island's future, Mr Conner said he hoped its new owner enjoys it as much as he has, but that it also has huge potential to operate as a tourist attraction, or play host to "the most unbelievable raves". Mr Conner said he envisaged the site offering an "unbelievable 24-hour experience", with the potential to host about 800 people. "I think that would be great for Wales, but I'm not in that industry and I don't know how that works."If it was generating revenue, and creating jobs and sustaining itself, that would be a great outcome."The more people who could use it the better, as it's got to be one of the most interesting buildings in the area," he added. Mr Conner said more people needed to come to Wales and see what is there. "It's a blank canvas, and the next owner can work out what it's for," he said, speaking of the island. "But if there are any events there, I would crawl over broken glass to get there."
