Cyclists in Walton will benefit from £1m of Government funding allocated to Surrey County Council to create a “new generation” of segregated bike routes.

Nearly £1m of the £1.6m funding will be dedicated to improving cycle provisions in Walton.

The scheme will create continuous segregated cycle paths to the north and south of the river on both sides of the road, along the A244 through Walton and A3050 and will link up with the cycle paths at the new Walton Bridge.

Chris Sadler, ward councillor for Walton Central, said: “I cycle a fair amount so I am very much in favour. It will be a tremendous boost to cycling in the area.

“We have already seen a huge upturn in the number of people who cycle compared to 10 years ago.

“There are masses of cyclists parked at the station now. You see many more cyclists parked near the heart and I just think this will give people who would be thinking about doing it and actually go out and do it.

Coun Sadler also hoped the increase in cycle traffic would give a boost to the shops in Walton.

The funding comes from a £40m pot from the Department for Transport set aside to improve safety for cyclists nationwide and is being split between 78 locations.

The county council secured the second largest grant of any council across the country.

Trevor Pugh, strategic director for environment and infrastructure at Surrey County Council, said: “We want to see a new generation of segregated cycle routes that not only radically reduce the risk to current riders, but which also make cycling an option to the large numbers of people who may want to ride a bike, but who fear mixing with busy traffic.

“This isn’t something we can achieve overnight, but the £1.6m we have won from the Department for Transport will take us further in the right direction. It will help provide excellent new cycle routes through two busy shopping and businesses areas of Surrey, while also making it safer for children to cycle to school.”

The money will be spent on two projects; one in Walton and one in Leatherhead with links to Ashtead.

Both projects will see cyclists, pedestrians and drivers separated so that bicycle riders can get through junctions safely.

The aim is to improve safety, encourage more people to cycle and boost the economy by reducing congestion on Surrey’s roads.

Norman Baker, transport minister, said: “Ensuring this funding is targeted where improvements will make a real difference to cyclists is just one way we are ensuring this trend continues.

“This is part of the £107m investment we have announced in cycling infrastructure over the last year, over and above the £600m we have invested through the Local Sustainable Transport Fund.

“We have launched a Think! Let’s Look Out For Each Other campaign and have made it easier for councils to set 20mph speed limits and install trixi mirrors at junctions so drivers are better able to see cyclists.”

MP Stephen Hammond, road safety minister, said: “Keeping people safe on our roads is of paramount importance to me. This money will enable local authorities to put in place well targeted measures to protect cyclists across the country.”

The schemes for the investment were selected for their positive impact on safety.

The county council won the biggest grant of any local authority, with £983,884 for the Walton Scheme and £595,124 for the Leatherhead and Ashtead scheme.