Consultation begins for walking and cycle routes in Biggleswade, Cranfield and Leighton Buzzard
Tuesday, 2 March 2021
New active travel schemes to encourage more walking and cycling have been proposed in Biggleswade, Cranfield and Leighton Buzzard.
We've launched a four-week public consultation on proposals to improve cycling and walking provisions in these three areas, after securing £600,000 from the government’s Active Travel Fund.
The new and improved travel routes aim to extend and improve existing cycle lanes and footways, with enhancements that include upgrading surfaces, extending kerb lines and improved signage.
The developments will make journeys on foot or by bike easier and safer for everyone and encourage more people to use active travel for local journeys, helping to reduce traffic and improving air quality.
Residents, businesses, community stakeholders and users of the existing routes and footpaths are being encouraged to give their views on our proposed schemes.
Councillor Steven Dixon, our Executive Member for Sustainability and Transformation, said:
This is excellent news and I want to commend our officers on securing this government funding and for developing these potential schemes to promote cycling and walking in three areas in need of improved active travel options in Central Bedfordshire.
People’s travel behaviour has changed during the pandemic, so we need to provide them with more options to be able to walk and cycle in their local community. The proposed changes will allow visitors, residents and businesses in these areas to use active travel for local journeys, which will deliver significant long-term benefits to their health and wellbeing and reduce the impact on the environment.
Our aim is to create schemes that meet the needs of each of the three communities and are developed in partnership with local people, so we would encourage anyone who lives in these areas or uses the existing routes, to have their say on our proposals.