Telford secures £1.9m for walking and cycling infrastructure
Cycling and walking provision in Telford and Wrekin has been given a huge boost today with the news that the local authority has been awarded £1,895,772 to improve dedicated routes between Telford town centre and Oakengates.
The £1.9m improvement scheme, which is wholly government funded through Active Travel England, will see the creation of:
- new off-road cycle and walking routes
- improved highways crossing points
- enhanced wayfinding
- and maintenance of the existing walking and cycling route from central Oakengates to Telford town centre to improve user experience and safety.
The routes between Oakengates and Telford town centre were identified by the council as important to expanding local ‘active travel’ provision as they link some of the borough’s key residential, commercial, leisure and green space sites, enabling local people to travel sustainably for work, education and recreation.
The council says work will now get underway to secure contractors, with the completed scheme due to be delivered by March 2025.
Cllr Lee Carter (Lab), cabinet member for place (the economy and neighbourhood services), said:
“Nationally, £200m was awarded by Active Travel England to 67 authorities, with Telford & Wrekin and Warwickshire being the only councils in the West Midlands awarded more than £1m.
“This is phenomenal and demonstrates our commitment to pursuing the climate action agenda while also connecting communities and boosting the local economy.”
Cllr Carolyn Healy (Lab), cabinet member for climate action, green spaces, heritage and leisure, said:
“We know residents care about the planet, so it’s our job to create a borough which makes it easy for them to live more sustainably.
“We want to enable our residents to reduce their reliance on cars – a move which will not only reduce climate-changing carbon emissions but will also mean we can all breathe cleaner air. And of course, walking and cycling offers significant benefits to people’s mental and physical health too.
“I’m thrilled we’ve managed to secure this funding which, along with our recent investment into the Silkin Way walking and cycling route plus our ongoing Learn2Ride bike skills training for local children, will help deliver a greener future for travel in Telford and Wrekin.”
Photo features Cllr Carolyn Healy with Cllr Hilda Rhodes (ward member for Oakengates & Ketley Bank).
