A CONTROVERSIAL new cycle path for parkland in Old Town is set to win permission.

The council has long wanted to build a cycle path and footway on the Lawns Public Open Space.

In spite of protests from residents, the council's planning committee is likely to give the scheme the go-ahead on Monday.

The proposed path would join up Old Mill Lane, Lakeside, and Dorchester Road, and complete what the council says would be an important route for cyclists.

"The route is an essential part of the strategic cycle network linking Old Town to Coate Water and the new hospital and this scheme is the last part of the route," a report to the committee says.

The building of new cycle routes also fits in with Government and council policy to promote more cycling and less reliance on cars to travel around the town.

But the council has received seven letters from residents claiming the pathway is in the wrong place.

People living in Greywethers Avenue, Dorchester Road, Bouverie Avenue and Raglan Close claim laying a hard cycle path would be completely out of character with the surrounding grassy open space.

They also claim that lighting planned along the route would cause light pollution, add to anti-social behaviour, and even confuse wildlife.

The residents are also worried about the potential for accidents involving fast-moving cyclists, and say there are alternative routes available for the site that would not spoil the parkland.

But planners have recommen-ded that councillors on the planning committee give the go-ahead to the plan.

And any decision to vote the scheme through would also have its supporters.

Two residents have written to the council supporting the plan, saying it is vital that the local cycle network is extended to tempt people away from their cars.

The residents claimed the building of the Lawn cycle path was long overdue and hoped that it would be just one of many routes to be built in future.