Sefton Council is inviting the public to have their say on its Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP).
The Council wants to make walking and cycling easier and more attractive for local journeys. This will help encourage more people to switch to these forms of active travel.
The Plan sets out proposals for footpaths, crossings, cycle lanes and other routes including Sefton’s existing popular routes. They have been drawn up by mapping local destinations and places of interest and existing infrastructure and joining it up with wider Liverpool City Region plans.
The Council now wants local people’s feedback to help improve it and make sure it’s right. Knowing what would encourage people to walk and cycle will help ensure any investment is focused on the right things in the right areas.
Cllr Daren Veidman, Cabinet Member for Housing and Highways said:
“Switching to active travel makes our streets safer, less polluted, nicer to use and reduces our carbon footprint.
“Ditching the car for some shorter journeys and walking, wheeling and cycling instead, can benefit our physical and mental health.
“We want the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan to provide the blueprint for that switch.
“It needs to cover all sorts of journeys including the walk to school and work and visits to local shops and other services such as GP surgeries and health clinics. This means accessible routes for wheelchair users and mobility scooters, and parents pushing prams, as well as better routes for people who would cycle if they felt safer.
“So, we’re asking for local people’s expertise and input to ensure our proposals are in line with what they want to see.”
As well as making it easier for people to choose active travel, the LCWIP can encourage economic growth and connect people with local jobs.
Cllr Veidman continued:
“Encouraging active travel is part of our Net Zero commitment and supporting the infrastructure for people to make the switch to sustainable travel, making Sefton greener, healthier and safer place to be.”
Following the consultation, the final LCWIP updated version will be adopted by Sefton Council, which will then seek to secure funding to bring its proposals to life.
People can have their say on the LCWIP at https://yourseftonyoursay.sefton.gov.uk/investment-programmes-and-infrastructure/sefton-lcwip/
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