A new shared cycleway and pedestrian footpath is being created on the coast road between Pooil Vaaish and the Shore Hotel in Rushen parish.

At least one resident had been concerned the roadworks, which are due to last until the end of August, were increasing the pavement size for pedestrian use only, so making the road narrower and more dangerous for cyclists.

The resident, who did not want to be named, wrote: ’It seems to me that a perfectly adequate footpath that has been the same for 30 plus years to be dug up and made massively wide this narrowing the road for cars and cyclists.

’This to me would go against the common sense of promoting riding safety on a busy road and seems further sections of road will be narrowed as well.

’Along with this the digging up of road to lay a terrible surface that was then dug up again to relay it and then after all that was done they then start to dig up the road surface again to relay the footpath along with alterations to the manhole covers.’

The road was being relaid and the decision was made to introduce the shared cycle/pedestrian path at the same time. Rushen parish commissioners support the project. ’The more you help cyclists is welcomed,’ said commissioners’ clerk Phil Gawne.

He added the authority lobbied ’very hard’ against initial plans to remove a grass verge with wildflowers by the hotel. This is all part of the Department of Infrastructure’s Active Travel strategy involving shared pathways to encourage walking or cycling instead of driving.

The idea of a cycleway was considered 10 years ago said Mr Gawne, who was infrastructure minister at the time, but dismissed as it was ’impractical’ to continue the way to Castletown along the coast instead of Fishers Hill (which has a narrow road and footpath). Infrastructure minister Ray Harmer said an extension to the cycle/walk way will be considered in the future.