‘AMBITIOUS’ plans to expand cycling and walking schemes in Leamington include a proposal to turn the town into a ‘mini-Holland’.
Warwickshire County Council (WCC) has secured £1.4 million from the Government’s Active Travel Fund towards the cost of delivering walking and cycling routes along Harbury Lane between Europa Way and the new primary and secondary schools being built at Oakley Grove on Oakley Wood Road.
The funds will be used to bring forward new or improved footways and cycleways and crossings, helping people to cycle or walk to the new school and connecting more people to the growing network of cycling and walking routes across the area.
The Government also awarded £79,000 to a feasibility study to assess how Leamington could be made as pedestrian and cycle-friendly as many Dutch towns and cities.
WCC is one of 19 authorities to receive funding to pay for a study and report to be produced, which will be submitted to the Department for Transport for assessment, with a small number of authorities set to be selected to receive intensive investment to bring forward mini-Holland schemes.
Coun Wallace Redford, WCC spokesperson for transport, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have secured this funding that will further enhance our active travel aspirations for Warwickshire.
“We have ambitious plans to extend the reach and quality of our cycling network so that cycling can be the go-to travel choice, particularly for short urban journeys, and this is perfectly complimented by this important funding boost.”
Visit https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/warwickshire-safe-active-travel for more information.
