THE cost of a long-awaited two-mile cycle route near Ferndown is expected to be almost £800,000 – more than triple a council’s original estimation.

Dorset County Council had expected its Ham Lane Cycleway scheme – linking Canford Bottom with Hampreston – to require a budget of £250,000 but has now revised the figure up to £799,250.

Residents have been calling for a segregated cycle and pedestrian route to run alongside Ham Lane for decades in a bid to improve safety for cyclists and pupils at Hampreston primary school.

The Ham Lane Cycleway has been included in the county council’s highways improvements programme and would see a route built alongside the main road.

One of the main aims of the cycleway is to complete a connection from Longham to the Castleman Trailway linking Upton Country Park with Moors Valley and Avon Heath country parks.

Work on the scheme is due to start in January but members of the council’s cabinet were told last week that the funding required had more than tripled due to “changes in scope and construction costs”.

Despite the “disappointing” three-fold rise, councillors have described the segregated route as “desperately needed”.

Cllr Janet Dover, the county councillor for Colehill East and Stapehill, said that despite being the council’s representative for the area, she had not been informed about the rise in costs.

“I had a meeting about a fortnight ago with council officers about the cycleway and was told in-depth about the project and what it will involve but was not made aware at any point of any cost rise.

“It’s disappointing of course that it will cost so much more but I am a huge supporter of cycleways and having one here in particular.

“Not only is it important for children going to the school but a lot of the people working at Ferndown Industrial Estate cycle to work so this will benefit them as well.

“Residents would be very sad and disappointed if the extra costs got in the way of the council building the route – especially when you imagine what it’s probably already cost in terms of planning.”

East Dorset district councillor for Hampreston and Longham, George Russell,  said that he was aware of the county council having "difficulties" in purchasing all of the required land but said that the scheme needed to be finished.

A spokesman for Dorset County Council said: "The Ham Lane scheme is part of an emerging network of cycle facilities in the south east Dorset area making trips by bike accessible to more people by providing safe and attractive routes.

“These facilities are part of the ongoing effort to provide an environment which enables more people to fit activity into their everyday routine, improve health and provide good alternatives to car travel for shorter trips.

“The section of road from Canford Bottom in the north to Hampreston in the south currently has no traffic-free facilities for pedestrians or cycles and is a crucial part of the network proposals to link to Wimborne, Ferndown and Uddens Industrial Estate, local schools and other local amenities as well as destinations further afield.

“Increases in cost reported at the recent cabinet were due to alterations to the scheme, bringing it to recommended standards for a 60mph road, environmental mitigation measures, land purchase and relocation of statutory undertakers' equipment.

“Due to the changes in scheme cost it is now recommended that the scheme be taken through a further internal sign-off process.”

Funding for the project is planned through the use of £300,000 in developer contributions and by spreading the remaining cost across the 2018/19 and 2019/20 financial years.