Take part in survey to help further improve popular walking and cycling route
July 2, 2020
People are being invited to take part in a survey that will help shape improvements planned for a popular walking and cycling path.
The Centurion Way is a 11km path between Chichester, Lavant and West Dean and follows the old dismantled Chichester to Midhurst railway line, which closed in 1991.
Following the latest path upgrade in 2015 as part of a project led by the South Downs National Park Authority, plans are now afoot to extend the Centurion Way from West Dean to connect with the South Downs Way at Cocking.
The short online survey is aimed at users and potential users of the path and seeks to find out how they use the route and what they would like to see improved.
Allison Thorpe, who leads Access and Recreation in the South Downs National Park, said: “The Centurion Way has become a very popular route for walkers and cyclists, giving them year-round, safe access right into the heart of the National Park. We’ve seen its usage double during the COVID-19 pandemic as more people are going out to enjoy exercise outdoors and leaving the car at home.
“Our long-term ambition is to have a safe, primarily off-road route for walkers and cyclists stretching all the way through the National Park from Chichester to Midhurst.
“We’re excited to be working on the next phase of the project and would like as many people as possible to take part in this survey.
“The survey explains our plans to extend the existing Centurion Way and to improve two public paths linking Cocking with the South Downs Way National Trail. People’s answers will help shape our final plans and help us apply for vital funding to carry out the necessary works.”
To take part in the survey visit https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/CenturionWay
The survey closes on Monday, 13 July.
The name Centurion Way pays homage to the area’s heritage as the path crosses the course of a Roman road. It connects with the South Coast Cycle Route at Fishbourne, where cyclists can continue westwards to visit Fishbourne Roman Palace and Bosham. The path also connects with the Salterns Way which extends to the coast at East Head.
Following consultation, planning permission for the Centurion Way extension between West Dean and Cocking was granted last October.