District council supports bid to improve walking and cycling routes in Wyre Forest
News release issued:
Wyre Forest District Council is backing Worcestershire County Council’s bid to improve walking and cycling routes in the area.
On Wednesday 15 July at Wyre Forest District Council’s full council meeting councillors passed a motion welcoming the positive impact increased cycling and walking has had on residents' health and wellbeing during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The council motion also urged Worcestershire County Council to submit a more ambitious bid to the government’s Emergency Active Travel Fund.
A second application has been put together by Worcestershire County Council for a grant of £1.082m which, if approved, will pay for canal towpaths to be widened to at least two metres in areas between Stourport and Churchfields in Kidderminster.
In July, Worcestershire County Council announced that walking and cycling routes between Kidderminster and Stourport would benefit from a share of £135,000 from the fund.
This second round of funding would allow the council to widen and improve canal towpaths along the Silverwoods link, near Wyre Forest Leisure Centre, and other areas along the route between Stourport and Kidderminster.
Worcestershire County Council is responsible for walking and cycling routes in the district.
Councillor Nicky Martin, Wyre Forest District Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, Health, Wellbeing and Democratic Services said: “We fully support the bids from Worcestershire County Council. We feel it’s extremely important walking and cycling routes are easy to access as we see more and more people using them and we continue to promote the benefits of daily exercise. The council is already committed to improving walking and cycling infrastructure as part of its submitted Local Plan and this proposal will deliver on that ambition. The Plan is now at the examination stage with hearings expected this autumn.”