A SECTION of canal towpath could be improved in a £900,000 scheme.

The work would be carried out on the North Yorkshire stretch of the route, alongside the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, between Kildwick and Silsden.

Included in the project would be a better connection from Cross Hills to the towpath at Priest Bank Road – incorporating the widening of a pedestrian underpass beneath the roundabout – and provision of a ramped access to the canal near Cononley Lane Ends.

The scheme is among four being put forward by North Yorkshire County Council in a bid for £1.55 million of funding to enhance facilities for cyclists and pedestrians.

It comes after the Government invited councils to apply for a share of £239 million available in the third tranche of its Active Travel Fund.

The county council’s executive members for business and environmental services will be asked to approve the bid when they meet on Friday (July 23).

A Government decision on the funding is expected in the autumn and any money allocated must be spent by March 2023.

County Councillor Don Mackenzie, executive member for access, said: “At the commencement of the Government’s Active Travel Fund project we asked members of the public, cycling and walking groups and councillors to send us their suggestions for appropriate schemes for inclusion in our bids. We were very fortunate to receive over 300 responses, which continue to be assessed against the scheme criteria.

“Additionally, our officers are using our adopted local cycling and walking infrastructure plans to identify potential bid material.”

Friday’s meeting takes place remotely at 2pm.