Wiltshire Council has been awarded £169,000 from Active Travel England to support projects that encourage more walking and cycling for everyday journeys.
The largest share of the funding, £140,000, will be used to deliver new School Streets pilot schemes designed to make the school run safer, calmer and healthier for children and families.
School Streets temporarily restrict traffic outside schools at drop-off and pick-up times. This helps to reduce congestion and improve air quality while making it easier and safer for pupils to walk, wheel or cycle.
The pilot will initially focus on six schools across five areas in Wiltshire.
The schools involved in the trial are –
- Fynamore Primary School in Calne,
- Minster CofE Primary School in Warminster,
- Queen’s Crescent Primary School in Chippenham,
- Aloeric Primary School in Melksham,
- Staverton Primary School and Emmaus School in Staverton.
Wiltshire Council recently consulted on the proposed School Streets locations and is now reviewing responses to decide how each pilot will be delivered.
The remaining £29,000 of the funding will be used to progress the design of a shared-use walking and cycling path between Park Wall and Lower Road in Quidhampton.
This route will form part of the Wilton to Salisbury active travel corridor and provide a safer alternative to the A3094, which currently has no dedicated cycling facilities.
The route will also link with National Cycle Network Route 24, offering further onward connections while avoiding the busy A36 road.
The funding will pay for detailed design work so accurate costs can be calculated and future bids for construction funding can be made.
Cllr Martin Smith, Cabinet Member for Highways, said, “This funding from Active Travel England allows us to continue improving the infrastructure that helps residents choose to walk, wheel and cycle more often.
“The School Streets pilot programme and the Quidhampton shared-use path will help to provide safer, more accessible routes for children, families and commuters.
“These projects support our wider goals to promote safer active travel options, improve public health, reduce traffic congestion and cut carbon emissions, as set out in Our Wiltshire Plan.”
For more information about active travel in Wiltshire, visit www.wiltshire.gov.uk/highways-new-active-travel-schemes.
