Olympic cyclist Chris Boardman and Stroud MP Simon Opher joined the project team, councillors, and school pupils in Dursley on Friday, to celebrate the launch of the Pedersen Way. 

The newly named route goes through the Littlecombe development and is designed to improve active travel options for all ages and abilities.

Boardman – who is an Olympic gold medallist, a national active travel commissioner and chair of Sport England – was joined by cycling groups, schoolchildren, and Pedersen cycle owners who gathered for the occasion, which included speeches and a ribbon-cutting ceremony under sunny spring skies.

Olympic gold medallist Chris Boardman officially opened the Pedersen route in Dursley on Friday (Image: Paul Nicholls)

Olympic gold medallist Chris Boardman officially opened the Pedersen route in Dursley on Friday (Image: Paul Nicholls)

Phil Littleford, project lead, said: “The team and I are delighted that our team member Simon Opher, along with Chris Boardman were able to join us and Verne opening of this important section of the route linking Cam & Dursley.

“To have so many local people here showing their support is really gratifying and we’ll continue to pursue the plan to link Cam & Dursley Station to Dursley, Uley, Conley and eventually connect with National Cycle Network Route 41 in Slimbridge.

“The feedback we’ve received about our new name, logo and Friday’s event has been overwhelmingly positive from many people of all ages and abilities.

“With the publicity this event created and our new signage we expect more and more people to use this safe and accessible route.”

Since its inception in 2007, the project and its route have been known as the Cam, Dursley & Uley Greenway.

The  name was originally chosen to reflect the proposed route from Cam & Dursley Station along the former railway line into the centre of Dursley.

However, after extensive planning and assessment, it became clear that most of the original railway route could not be used.

Olympic gold medallist Chris Boardman officially opened the Pedersen route in Dursley on Friday (Image: Paul Nicholls)

As a result, significant work was undertaken to identify an alternative route that would deliver the project’s goals.

Over time, the scope of the project has expanded. Uley was added, and work is underway to explore connections to Coaley and Slimbridge.

It was recently announced at a Gloucestershire County Council meeting that the 8km route would also receive a  £110,000 funding boost.