Central Bedfordshire Council adopting a healthier and greener approach to travel
It's to increase the number of trips made on foot or by bicycle.
Adopting a healthier and greener approach to travel across Central Bedfordshire is central to a new strategy being developed by the local authority to increase the number of trips made on foot or by bicycle.
Work is under way to develop a suite of cycling and walking infrastructure plans for the locality (LCWIPs) to identify improvements required in the area, according to a report to Central Bedfordshire Council’s executive.
“The next stage is to begin engagement with residents, members and other key stakeholders, the outcomes of which will shape the final plans,” said the report. “The proposals will be consulted on with a view to formal adoption by CBC.
“The government’s cycling strategy called Gear Change places a renewed emphasis on the provision of high-quality infrastructure for active travel.
“Cycle way standards called LTN1/20 have been introduced and the Department for Transport has set up an executive body called Active Travel England to oversee, inspect and manage funding for cycling infrastructure.”
Conservative Stotfold and Langford councillor Steve Dixon told the executive: “The aim is to continue the pace in Central Bedfordshire of moving towards more active travel process.
“We’ve had some good feedback already from earlier engagement,” he explained. “The report seeks support for the consultation process.
“There’s a note about green wheels. We’re using Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity (BRCC) to deliver these because this needs to align with anything we’re doing.
“This is quite challenging for rural authorities. There’s the element of enforcement of parking and cycle lanes. There’s a strong feeling the LTN1/20 standard is urban, rather than particularly rural.
“That’s been raised with Active Travel England and has been recognised,” added the executive member for sustainability and transformation councillor Dixon.
“So I’m hopeful we might see a little leniency in those standards being interpreted.”
Conservative Sandy councillor Tracey Stock said: “I welcome the government’s new strategy. It’s so important to encourage our population to become active.
“Covid has taught us it’s important to get out for our health and wellbeing, particularly around our mental health, and I’m pleased the green wheels are being delivered and play a role into this.”
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