AN APPLICATION for a new footpath and a new cycle path at Levens has been submitted to South Lakeland District Council.

The submission from Levens Parish Council aims to address the lack of a safe pedestrian route between Levens Village and Levens Bridge and the nearest bus stop.

“Any resident of Levens must walk along the unlit road to access public transport at Levens Bridge,” said the design statement submitted as part of the application.

“Of particular concern is that children accessing the school buses must walk along an unlit road from the village to the bus stop, or from Levens Bridge along a busy and relatively narrow stretch of the A6.

“There has been a significant increase in houses built in Levens village over recent years with more residents, including children, needing to access public transport.”

The statement added that the majority of the land that would be involved in the project was owned by Levens Hall.

It said Levens Parish Council and Cumbria County Council ‘have access to funding for a new footpath and cycle route over land owned by Levens Hall’.

“The proposal includes the replanting of a native hedgerow along the entire length of the proposed footpath.

“The hedgerow will be planted between two stock fences which will run the length of the footpath.”

A number of mature trees are located along the proposed 1.2m-wide footpath and it is recommended that overhanging branches be pruned.

The location of the cycle path would be different to that of the footpath.

The route would connect the existing footpath at the flyover on the A6 to Levens Bridge.

“The cycle path would be 2.5m wide and surfaced in rolled slate on a stone hardcore base,” added the design statement.

“Where the cycle path meets the root protection area of the large oak tree, the path will be diverted around the tree.”

The statement said the hedge along the A6 would be retained.