COUNTY COUNCIL chiefs are celebrating after Worcestershire County Council was awarded more than £160,000 to improve cycling, walking and wheeling routes across the county as part of Active Travel England’s Capability Building Fund.
Active Travel England is the government’s executive agency responsible for making walking, wheeling and cycling the preferred choice for everyone to get around in England.
The funding will be used for training and to develop Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIP) for Bromsgrove, Droitwich, Malvern, Pershore and Worcester city. A support package that includes dedicated training, guidance and design support has been put in place now the funding is confirmed.
The first LCWIP for Evesham is being finalised and the County Council has commissioned a second for Redditch.
Coun Mike Rouse, cabinet member for Highways and Transport, said: “We’re continually working to make improvements to our cycling, walking and wheeling network in the county.
“The zero rating we received last year was difficult to take but we’re now pushing forward to ensure we move away from this rating as soon as possible.
“A lot of work has already taken place and this additional funding will go a long way towards delivering our ambitious plans and opening up further avenues for support and funding.”
Worcestershire County Council has delivered a number of schemes in the county, including fully segregated cycleways, secure cycle parking, junction enhancements for Active Travel, route improvements, new road crossings, routes in 20mph zones and three Active Travel bridges.
Further proposals in development include walking and cycling provision on major road networks, Levelling Up funding applications and committing Council funding to deliver a further two new Active Travel river bridges to enhance connectivity and encourage active travel.
