AN old railway that runs between Scarborough and Whitby could soon be restored and reopened as a cycle path under new plans.

The charity Sustrans has been awarded funding from the Coastal Revival Fund to consult on and plan a restoration of the "Cinder Track", which runs along the North Yorkshire coast.

According to Sustrans, the plan will "inform the long-term management of the old railway and attract new investment that will help to fully realise the potential of this iconic resource as a heritage, wildlife, and traffic-free transport route for the many local communities it links."

Groundwork North Yorkshire is carrying out the consultation, while Scarborough Borough Council (the owners of the line) is providing project management support.

The Cinder Track currently forms part of both the National Cycle Network and the North Sea Cycle Route (EuroVelo Route 12).

Mike Babbitt, Sustrans regional infrastructure manager, said: "This is a very exciting project which allows us to carefully consider and plan major improvements for what should really be some of the best coastal cycling and walking in Britain.

"We urge local people and others to tell us about their usage of the route, and to give us their views on what they’d most like to see improved, and where."

The deadline for the initial online consultation is February 5.

The consultation can be found at groundwork.org.uk/Sites/newy/news/cinder-track-survey-newy.