A partnership between Lyme Regis and Uplyme council's has secured a long-awaited scheme to improve pedestrian safety along a busy road.
Uplyme Parish Council has fought since 2017 to establish a footway on the B3165/Crogg Lane, a route heavily used by residents and schoolchildren.
The £120,000 scheme has been approved by Devon County Council and will involve a dedicated pedestrian path, the narrowing of the road to create a single-lane carriageway, new kerbs and paving, drainage upgrades to reduce flooding, traffic calming measures to slow speed and assist drivers, and a new streetlight to illuminate the pathway.
Lyme Regis Town Council was asked in 2024 to lend its support to the campaign and readily contributed £3,000, matching the contribution made by Uplyme Parish Council and demonstrating good cross-border relations.
Dorset Council has also contributed £5,000, with the remainder coming from Devon County Council’s highways budget.
Although not in Lyme Regis, the town council recognised the close relationship between the two communities and how residents and schoolchildren from both Uplyme and Lyme Regis use the route regularly to access services in each location.
The mayor, Cllr Philip Evans said: "Lyme Regis Town Council is delighted that the Crogg Lane improvement scheme has been approved and our congratulations go to Uplyme Parish Council for pursuing this project for the safety and wellbeing of the community.
"Our council had no hesitation in helping to fund the scheme, given the dangers the route currently poses to pedestrians, including the many children who use the route to get to and from school.
"This is a great example of our two communities working together to create improvements for residents of both Uplyme and Lyme Regis and the many visitors who come to the area."
A spokesperson for Uplyme Parish Council said: “Crogg Lane is a vital link between Uplyme and Lyme Regis. Until now, pedestrians have had to share space with two-way traffic, which has been unsafe and inconvenient.
“By narrowing the road and creating a proper footway, the scheme prioritises safety while still allowing vehicles, buses, and larger traffic to pass through under managed conditions.
“The scheme has been carefully developed to balance the needs of motorists with the safety of pedestrians, ensuring the route remains fit for purpose well into the future.
“This has truly been a shared endeavour across county border boundaries, such was the importance of this scheme.”
Works are scheduled to begin in the first half of this year and the project schedule will be published in advance, with updates provided throughout the works.
There will be some disruption to the route during the works, including temporary diversions and traffic management, but access will be maintained and signage will be in place to advise walkers and drivers.
The single-lane design will still be able to accommodate buses and larger vehicles and priority/give way markings will manage traffic flow.