Have your say on cycling and walking plans for Calne and Melksham

Published 3 July 2024

People in Wiltshire are being asked for their views on cycling and walking plans in Calne and Melksham.

The two Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPs) set out proposals for cycling and walking networks in each town and highlight how these networks will be improved and connected to make it easier and safer to walk and cycle in the towns.

The aim of the LCWIPs is to deliver infrastructure that will enable and encourage more trips to be made on foot or by bike, and help to improve air quality, reduce traffic congestion, and cut carbon emissions. In addition, walking and cycling are forms of lower impact exercise, they are a great way to keep active, lift mood and improve general health and wellbeing.

The LCWIPs will also be used to inform the planning process where relevant, and future funding from the Department for Transport for active travel schemes will be linked to the walking and cycling schemes in each published plan.

This is the second and final stage of consultation for these two LCWIPs, and once this stage is complete, all comments will be considered before final LCWIPs for both Calne and Melksham are published.

Cllr Tamara Reay, Cabinet Member for Transport, said: There are many benefits to leaving the car at home and choosing to cycle or walk particularly for shorter journeys; it can help improve health and air quality, reduce carbon emissions, and save people money.

Cycling and walking networks create safer and more convenient routes for residents to walk, wheel, and cycle and once finalised, these two LCWIPs will be implemented over the long term, so I encourage people to take part and have their say.

When published, these LCWIPs will be used to inform planning decisions and will also be used as the basis for further funding to enable the schemes to be constructed.

These plans will help us meet our Business Plan objectives to build efficient transport networks that provide a viable alternative to using the car as well as supporting the decarbonisation of existing transport through the increased use of walking and cycling.

The council has published a county-wide Wiltshire LCWIP and LCWIPs for Salisbury, Chippenham, Trowbridge and Devizes. In the future the council intends to develop LCWIPs for Amesbury, Bradford-on-Avon, Corsham, Malmesbury, Marlborough, Royal Wootton Bassett, Tidworth, Warminster, and Westbury.

The consultation on these two LCWIPs are now live, and residents have until 6 September to contribute. Once complete all responses will be collated and considered before the LCWIPs are finalised.

To find out more and to take the online survey, people should visit Commonplace: Calne and Melksham LCWIP(opens new window)

Topics:

• Highways and transport news

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