West Berkshire Council has today launched a set
of draft proposals of measures to help the public safely make walking or
cycling trips part of their daily travel choices, and is inviting feedback from
the community to help shape these plans. The public consultations can be
viewed and commented upon via the Council’s new Active Travel consultation
platform:
https://westberksatschemes.commonplace.is/Designed to encourage 'active
travel' by introducing more walking and cycling opportunities throughout the
district, the draft proposals include:
- West
Berks Local Cycling & Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP). This
emerging draft transport policy is about making streets work for everyone,
thus helping to make West Berkshire a better place to live, work and
visit.
- Crown
Mead Cycleways. The emerging LCWIP has identified the A4 as a primary
route with high potential for increased cycle trips if appropriate
infrastructure were to be provided.
- Western
Avenue Cycleways. The A4 Western Avenue in Speen, Newbury has been
identified as a high priority corridor for cycling and walking routes. The
plan proposes permanent measures to create and improve travel routes for
cyclists and pedestrians.
- West
Berks Active Streets. These are various smaller scheme draft plans to help
improve facilities and grow walking and cycling opportunities in West
Berkshire including proposals for restricted access on Lawrence's Lane and
Deadman's Lane in Thatcham and Theale respectively. In addition, if any
resident would like to submit a specific walking and cycling proposal of
their own, or comment on a location which falls outside of the currently
identified schemes, they can do so via the Active Travel Heat Map within
the West Berks Active Streets section of consultation portal.
- Calcot
Schools Streets. This pilot School Zone/School Street Scheme is designed
to make the streets around the schools safer and suitable for more walking
and cycling, as well as improve the air quality.
Councillor Richard Somner,
Executive Member for Transport and Countryside at West Berkshire Council, said:
“Our Active Travel schemes are
designed to enhance the safety of pedestrians and cyclists, including children
and adults alike. They will also promote health and wellbeing for residents;
improve the environment, air quality and sustainability; and play a key role in
COVID-19 economic recovery plans.
“We encourage residents to
take to part in shaping our plans by registering onto our specially-dedicated
online consultation platform. The platform has been designed to make it easy
for participants to read the proposals, provide views, and engage in
discussions around each of the schemes.”
The Active Travel consultation
platform enables the general public to read and comment upon detailed concept
plans and various information related to the schemes, including maps. Some of
the consultations feature visual sliders to demonstrate a "before and
after" scenario to help residents understand any changes being proposed.
Several opinion surveys will be held within the platform throughout the course
of the consultations to gauge further feedback from the community.
The Crown Mead Cycleways and
Western Avenue Cycleways proposals are each open for consultation until on
Friday, 9 April. The remainder are eight week consultations that will finish on
Friday, 23 April.
With the exception of the
LWCIP, the implementation of the Active Travel proposals will be funded through
the £495,000 award from the Department for Transport's Active Travel Fund,
following the Council's bid to further develop a lasting, safe environment for
walking and cycling.
With their emphasis on
promoting health and wellbeing, maintaining a green district and enhancing
sustainability, the proposals support the local authority’s Council Strategy
2019 – 2023, Environment Strategy 2020 – 2030, Health and Wellbeing Strategy,
Local Transport Plan 2011 – 2026, and the Covid-19 Recovery Strategy.