Pedestrians are now on the path to a safer life after a walkway next to a busy main road was opened up to the public.

The off-road footpath has been cleared and is now open along the verge of Heath End Road, Flackwell Heath, near to where the village Amersham and Wycombe College site is located.

The road links the village with Marlow Hill, High Wycombe, and regularly sees pedestrians walk in groups down certain stretches of the road.

After receiving a grant from Buckinghamshire County Council Community Priorities Fund, Chepping Wycombe Parish was able to kick-start their planned work alongside Little Marlow Parish Council.

The council’s attention turned to Heath End Road after completing work in Sheepridge Lane.

Chepping councillor Jeff Herschel said: “We thought we could/should do something to improve the footpath network itself, in particular to try and address the long-voiced concerns from those who used the footpaths on Sheepridge.

“Being narrow, and with a history of accidents, few felt happy walking on this narrow road. Fortunately along most of its length is a wide verge that could be cleared and a green off-road footpath created.

“But success breeds ambition and two years ago thoughts turned to creating a similar off-road green footpath along another fast, busy road that deterred walkers and runners: Heath End Road.

“Similar funding, the Bucks CC Community Priorities Fund; similar time-scale: two phases, the first and more difficult section has just been completed. “Now hopefully we can obtain a similar grant for Phase II from Abbey Barn Road up to the M40 bridge at the Little Marlow parish boundary with High Wycombe.”

Talking about the difference it will make, he added: “Not just for villagers... but also the many students who walk to and from the Amersham and Wycombe College campus in Flackwell Heath...and also the many runners from around the district who use the route to train for the Wycombe Half-Marathon.

“The Heath End footpath also joins up the footpaths along the northern edge of Sheepridge, providing even more safe circular paths for walkers.”

BCC contributed £8,000 to the footpath scheme through its Chepping Wye Valley Local Area Forum (LAF).

Katrina Wood, chairman of the LAF, said: “The Local Area Forum realised how dangerous this route was and are pleased to have been able to fund this project to link up the local footpaths to make the walks a much safer experience for local residents.

“We recognise that our community are being encouraged to take more exercise and walking is a fantastic way to maintain a healthy lifestyle especially for our older residents and we welcome anything we can do to encourage this.”