CYCLISTS are being urged to have their say on plans for cycling infrastructure across the Warwickshire as time runs out on the consultation survey.
The Commonwealth Games Road Races in Warwick last Sunday saw an estimated 40,000 visitors turning out to watch both the men’s and women’s races.
In keeping with the ethos of the games being Active Travel and public transport focussed, a huge number of visitors came on bikes with dedicated secure cycle parking across the town being well used throughout the day.
Warwickshire is gaining a growing reputation as a centre for cycling having hosted stages of the Women’s Tour since 2016 and the Tour of Britain in 2019. Cycling clubs have grown in number and membership in recent years and the county’s roads are regularly seeing groups take to the roads.
Warwickshire County Council is now looking to see an increase in cyclists going about daily activities such as commuting and is looking for residents’ views on what would help this to happen.
But they only have until tomorrow (August 14) to have their say on cycling infrastructure across the county.
Residents’ views are being sought on the draft version of the Warwickshire Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP).
This plan will be used to develop Warwickshire’s walking and cycling programme over the next ten years. WCC needs to find out now what infrastructure schemes should be included and prioritised.
The draft LCWIP has been developed following public engagement in 2021, which asked people to identify what types of walking and cycling improvements they would like to see in their local area.
Public events about this consultation have also taken place around the county this summer, and an information webinar was held on Thursday 21 July 2022. To watch the question-and-answer session from this event visit https://youtu.be/_ln_ekstPfY
With concerns about the rising fuel prices, climate change and personal health, local people are frequently telling WCC that they would like to walk and cycle more but would like better facilities to support this.
The LCWIP consultation is an opportunity for all Warwickshire residents to tell WCC what they think of the plans to improve walking and cycling provision.
WCC transport spokesman Coun Wallace Redford said: “We sincerely the Cycling Road Races in Warwick will serve is an impetus for our residents to get involved in giving their views on our plans for walking and cycling infrastructure across the county.
“Active travel and encouraging our residents to ditch their cars for shorter journeys is a key priority for this Council. The benefits of this travel shift are huge for both individual health outcomes and for the wider environment.
“We recognise that it is not enough just to ask residents to make this large modal shift without providing the necessary walking and cycling infrastructure that make it both possible and desirable, which is why this consultation is so important. With just over a week to go, I hope that as many of our residents as possible take part in this consultation as we work together for a Warwickshire that is sustainable now and for future generations.”
To complete the survey visit https://ask.warwickshire.gov.uk/
Feedback from the consultation will be used to produce an amended LCWIP. It is intended to progress this to formal adoption later in 2022. The final LCWIP will be closely integrated with the Active Travel Strategy in Warwickshire’s emerging Local Transport Plan.
