Rutland County Council has secured funding from Active Travel England to design local schemes that will provide residents with more choices for active travel such as walking and cycling.

Over £100,000 of funding will be paid to Rutland as a grant, using a combination of Active Travel England (ATE) ATF4E grant funding and the integrated transport capital programme budget funded by the UK Government. 

The funding will be used to develop designs and plans for locations outlined as a priority within the Council's Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP). These designs can then be used to bid for any future Government funding that may come forward to build new walking and cycling provisions.

Rutland's first LCWIP identifies the gaps in the County's walking and cycling network and sets out a plan to help prioritise where improvements should be directed, to deliver enhanced connectivity and safety for those travelling on foot or bicycle. 

Councillor Christine Wise, Portfolio Holder for Transport, Environment and Communities said "Cars will always be the most convenient way to get around for some people, particularly in a rural area like ours. However, there are also lots of people who could and would travel by foot or bike if there were better, safer routes available.

"Creating more routes for active travel is key to our wider plans to help the environment in Rutland, by reducing carbon emissions, as well as helping businesses and the local tourist economy by making sure people can walk and cycle for work, education and pleasure. That's exactly why this funding has been made available to councils and why we applied for it, so we're very pleased to have been successful."

You can view the Rutland County Council LCWIP: Transport and parking strategies and bids | Rutland County Council.