UP to £350,000 can be spent repairing the historic Hockley Viaduct in Winchester, civic chiefs agreed.

City council cabinet members voted to make the cash available to support the creation of a new cycleway.

The project is also backed by Hampshire County Council and transport charity, Sustrans.

It will see the iconic chain of now-derelict railway arches south of the city brought back into use.

Once completed, cyclists will be able to ride from Hockley right into the middle of Winchester.

Several sections need to be repaired, and the scheme returned to Winchester City Council’s cabinet on Wednesday (April 11).

They heard that up to £350,000 would be needed, and the best time to tackle the work would be between July and October. The reason is to avoid disturbing bats at the site.

The council’s ‘cycling champion’, Cllr Jacey Jackson, came to speak to the cabinet about the plan.

She welcomed the scheme, but said commuters on pushbikes might avoid the route because there were more direct ways into the city.

“I think it will primarily be a leisure route, and I welcome it as such,” she said.

Cabinet members agreed in principle to release the cash.