West Berkshire Council Invests £1.8m in Active Travel

West Berkshire Council is ploughing up to £1.8m into walking and cycling routes to get people choosing active travel for short local trips.

The council's transport plan aims to lift the share of everyday trips in Newbury and Thatcham from about 35% to 50%, supporting health, cutting traffic and tackling the climate and ecological emergency.

Recent works include a new shared-use path and crossing near Francis Baily School in Thatcham, cycle parking at Cotswold Leisure Centre in Tilehurst, the first stage of the Eling Way extension through Hermitage, new glazing at bike shelters outside Newbury Library, and extra cycle parking at the Lambourn Centre and Shaw House.

Coming up: a cycle shelter in Hungerford, footway and crossing upgrades in Priors Court Road, Hermitage, signage, markings and tactile paving in Northcroft Lane and Turnpike in Newbury, an upgrade for the Mortimer to Burghfield multi-user path and active travel improvements in South East Thatcham.

The schemes use a mix of external funding, including the Rural England Prosperity Fund, the Government's Active Travel Fund and developer contributions.

"Making it easier and safer for people to walk, wheel or cycle for everyday journeys is a really important part of improving quality of life in West Berkshire," said Stuart Gourley (Lib Dem, Newbury Clay Hill), executive member for environment.

"These schemes help people stay active, cut down on traffic and reduce carbon emissions, while also making our towns and villages more pleasant places to live.

"By continuing to invest in active travel, we are giving residents more choice in how they get around and supporting a healthier, more sustainable future for our communities."

Niki Hinman, Local Democracy Reporter