A missing six-metre link in the Calne to Chippenham cycle path is due to be filled in this autumn.

Cyclists’ long wait will end when they can ride the seven miles to Chippenham railway station without venturing on to the road.

The Cycle Routes UK website suggests the route is unbroken, but it is blocked by a bramble bush at the top of Darcy Close, near Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre.

A petition, started by the Market Quarter Residents’ Association, calling for the gap to be plugged was signed by 163 people a year ago.

Wiltshire Council member Chris Caswill secured £2,250 from the Chippenham Area Board’s transport group, which was boosted to £3,000 by Chippenham Town Council.

He said: “I am absolutely delighted that this link is finally going to be made. It will be a great benefit to cyclists and pedestrians.

“Policy is to improve access to public transport stations, so it’s a no-brainer.”

MP Duncan Hames wrote to Wiltshire Council’s corporate director for resources, asking him to deliver the link as soon as possible.

He said: “I am keen that Chippenham’s cycle infrastructure is as coherent and as complete as possible.”

Wiltshire Council said it would clear the hedge in about a week’s time and lay a temporary 1.5m-wide gravel path in early autumn.

A spokesman said: “The path will be of a temporary nature because the land in question, whilst owned by the council, is to be adopted as highway.

“Once full highway adoption takes place, we will be seeking to provide a formal cycle link to the Old Market Quarter by means of a 3m wide tarmacadam path.”

Bill Boffin, chairman of the residents’ association, said: “People get rather annoyed going down the path to find there’s a bramble bush in the way. It’s silly because you could stand on each side of the bush saying, hi.”

Residents also want a bollard put in, to prevent vehicles using the path.