A MAJOR move which will encourage Eastleigh citizens to get on their bikes is to be launched.

Borough engineers are to carry out feasib-ility studies for three cycle routes including one which will bring riders into the town centre.

Senior councillors have given the go-ahead for a total of £8,500 to be spent on paving the way for schemes in Southampton Road, Eastleigh, Hiltingbury Road, Chandler's Ford and Mortimers Lane, Fair Oak.

It will be part of the council's four-year strategy community investment programme.

The Southampton Road route will link the cycleway recently completed in Doncaster Drove to South Street, connecting with the existing cycleway into the town centre

The facility was originally proposed as a shared footpath and cycleway on the western side of Wide Lane and Southampton Road.

Since the preliminary estimate was prepared the county council has insisted upon new street lighting, substantially increasing the cost.

In a report, Eastleigh council's head of financial services Nick Tustian says that it will be necessary to spend about £500 on a further feasibility study into street lighting.

The Hiltingbury Road cycle route is included in the borough cycle strategy and is also in the Thornden School transport plan.

A similar amount of cash is needed to steer plans forward for a cycle route in Mortimers Lane, Fair Oak.

Mr Tustian says although the majority of finance is not yet in place to fund the Community Investment Programme prep-aratory work needs to start immediately including the employment of key staff.

The council is planning to employ a design engineer who will carry out feasibility studies for cycle routes in Southampton Road, Hiltingbury Road and Mortimers Lane.