New funding for Safer, Greener, Healthier travel in Essex

Essex County Council has been successful in winning £352,249, one of the highest awards in the UK, to encourage more cycling and walking across the county.

The grant funding from the new Local Authority Capability Fund, is one of the highest allocations in the country and will be used to develop a rural cycling plan and provide cycle training for Essex residents who want to try cycling but are unsure of road rules and basic techniques to keep themselves safe on the road.

Travel challenges will be set to encourage more pupils to cycle and walk to school. The funds will also be used to deliver workplace cycle challenges, active travel events and other engagement encouraging change in travel behaviour toward walking and cycling.

The funding will also be used to support engagement surrounding the visit of the Women’s Cycle Tour to Colchester and Clacton on 8th October, 2021.

Welcoming the announcement, Cllr Lee Scott, Cabinet Member for Highways Maintenance and Sustainable Transport at Essex County Council, said: “More and more of our residents are recognising the benefits of walking and cycling especially for those shorter journeys where in the past, we’ve automatically jumped into our cars.

“If we are to meet our climate commitments – we need to encourage even more residents to explore active travel options.

“Active travel improves health and wellbeing , reduces air pollution and congestion on our roads.  This funding, as well as many of our other active travel initiatives, will help us achieve our ambition to make Essex the walking and cycling county.”