Residents are invited to give their views on Safer, Greener, Healthier cycling and walking networks in Essex.
The views of Essex residents are needed to guide and inform the future direction of strategy to encourage active travel in the county, and to achieve this a consultation has been launched today.
Views of residents in Basildon, Braintree, Brentwood, Chelmsford and Colchester are particularly welcome.
Published today as part of the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP), the consultation will run until 7 April 2021 and is the first stage of a process to implement local cycling and walking networks across the county.
Cllr Kevin Bentley, Deputy Leader of Essex County Council and Cabinet Member for Infrastructure, said: “One of the aims of our Safer Greener Healthier campaign is to encourage local residents to rethink the way they travel where possible, especially for shorter journeys. The LCWIPs are a significant step towards achieving this.”
“Basildon, Braintree, Brentwood, Chelmsford and Colchester are all experiencing significant growth pressures and therefore, prioritising the development of good and safe walking and cycling networks is paramount. We want to ensure that new housing and commercial developments have access to excellent walking and cycling infrastructure which in turn enables trips into a wider active travel network.”
Only views on the overarching network of routes are being sought at this stage, not on specific infrastructure enhancements. Further consultations will follow in May on specific proposals in the four towns as part of the Active Travel Fund (ATF) schemes.
- The LCWIP consultation and summary PDF can be accessed here: https://consultations.essex.gov.uk/sustainable-travel-planning-team/lcwipconsultation/
- ECC was awarded £7,358,700 from the government in November 2020 for tranche 2 of the Active Travel Fund, one of the highest allocations of any county in England. The money will fund a series of projects to reallocate and create more space for cycling and walking. The schemes in Basildon (Wickford), Braintree, Brentwood, Chelmsford and Colchester will start to be delivered from summer 2021.
