A new strategy to improve East Suffolk's cycling, walking and wheelchair routes, including many in the Felixstowe area, has been adopted by the council.

East Suffolk Council's cabinet yesterday voted unanimously to implement the East Suffolk Cycling and Walking Strategy, which recommends improvements to routes and incorporates residents' suggestions.

The strategy proposes improvements to routes identified as having potential for more residents to cycle, walk or wheel along them.

Recommendations for some routes include introducing cycling and walking tracks, as well as widening, resurfacing, adding crossing points and improving lighting across them.

Labour councillor Louise Gooch said: "This is a comprehensive and aspirational document – in excess of 1,500 pages.

"Maybe we should have a dedicated section on the website hosting the strategy, which shows residents what developments have been delivered based on it?"

The strategy provides recommendations rather than policies, and seeks to support Suffolk Coastal and Waveney local plans. It will replace the 2016 Waveney Cycle Strategy.

Cllr Steve Gallant, Conservative leader of the council, described the document as "excellent" but also alluded to its aspirational – rather than definitive – nature.

Cllr Gallant said: "It would be impossible to do everything in this strategy; I would be way past cycling by the time it was all delivered."

The areas focused on in the strategy are Ipswich to Melton, Ipswich to Felixstowe, Martlesham to Felixstowe, Felixstowe to the Trimley villages area, Lowestoft to Hopton, Lowestoft to Kessingland, Lowestoft to Bungay and a Lowestoft internal corridor – including the parishes of Oulton, Oulton Broad, Carlton Colville, Gisleham and Lowestoft.

Wheelchairs are mentioned in just two places across the strategy, but its stated purpose refers to their use: "The purpose of the strategy is to create safe, coherent, direct, comfortable, and attractive cycling, walking and wheeling environments." The equality impact assessment also states improved footpaths and cycle lanes would benefit those with a disability.

Routes where new cycling and walking tracks are proposed in the Ipswich to Melton area include along Bell Lane, Portal Avenue, Brightwell Road, Eagle Way and Valiant Road; and between Wilford Bridge Road and Sutton Hoo, Melton Park and Melton Train Station, and Brightwell Lakes and Felixstowe Road.

In the Ipswich to Felixstowe area, new tracks are suggested between Ransomes Way and the Trinity Park roundabout, the Felixstowe Road (west) bridge to Felixstowe Road (east), along Murrills Road and along Felixstowe Road (east).

New tracks recommended across the Martlesham to Felixstowe area are between Kirton Road and Buckleton Road and Bucklesham Road to Brightwell Lakes.

Routes proposed between Felixstowe and the Trimley villages area include ones along the southern side of Howlett Way and Faulkeners Way, along Cliff Road, along High Road, between High Road and Grimston Lane, and from Howlett Way to Church Lane.

The plan for Lowestoft to Hopton includes a new pathway along the old railway line, and recommendations for Lowestoft to Bungay include a new track along Church Road and Hulver Road, and along Lowestoft Road.

An initial consultation for the strategy in 2020 asked residents to identify existing cycling and walking issues, and suggest solutions where possible. This returned 797 comments, most of which are included in a 'community recommendations' section of the document.

A consultation on the draft strategy between November 2021 and January 2022 returned over 1,000 comments, which are included in the 'consultation statement' part of the document.

The full strategy can be found here (item five, split between appendices A and G): https://eastsuffolk.cmis.uk.com/eastsuffolk/Meetings/tabid/70/ctl/ViewMeetingPublic/mid/397/Meeting/598/Committee/5/SelectedTab/Documents/Default.aspx

An online version of the strategy is here: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/collections/4bd40e1d6e6c4637a7fceb840827c843?item=1