Commitments to improve cycling, walking and wheelchair routes across Felixstowe could be adopted by East Suffolk council next week.

The council's executive will decide whether to adopt a new cycling and walking strategy for the area, which recommends improvements to routes identified as having potential for more residents to travel along them without driving.

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

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.

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.

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 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.

Wheelchairs are mentioned in just two places across the strategy, but its stated purpose does refer to their use: "The purpose of the strategy is to create safe, coherent, direct, comfortable, and attractive cycling, walking and wheeling environments."

The related equality impact assessment also states improved footpaths and cycle lanes would benefit those with a disability.

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.

The recommendations in the strategy would act as guides, rather than binding decisions.

An initial consultation for the strategy in 2020 asked residents to identify existing cycling and walking issues, and suggest solutions where possible. This led to 797 comments, which were taken on board to produce the document.

A consultation on the draft strategy between November 2021 and January 2022 returned over 1,000 comments, influencing changes to the final document.

The cycling and walking strategy can be found here, along with details of the council meeting it will be considered at: https://eastsuffolk.cmis.uk.com/eastsuffolk/Meetings/tabid/70/ctl/ViewMeetingPublic/mid/397/Meeting/598/Committee/5/SelectedTab/Documents/Default.aspx (under point five).