Braintree District Council in Essex has granted planning permission and awarded £10,000 to Greenway North Essex, a community group committed to creating safe, all-weather cycle routes that connect villages and smaller towns.
The funding will support Greenway North Essex’s ambition of establishing a cycle route connecting Kelvedon, Coggeshall, Earls Colne and Halstead. This project forms part of a wider strategy of creating a coherent cycle network linking rural and urban areas, thereby encouraging more residents to choose cycling as a primary mode of transport.
Peter Kohn of Greenway North Essex, said: “Greenway North Essex welcomes the support of Braintree District Council. For ambitious projects like this to work, community groups and councils need to work together closely. The next big task is to try and secure funding for the delivery of the scheme and this requires funding bodies to see close cooperation between the public, community groups and local government. We are fortunate to be in a position to demonstrate this.”
Results from an eight week public engagement exercise on the Council’s cycling strategy showed that sixty-one percent of residents believe developing a comprehensive cycle network should be a top priority. This aligns with the Council’s long-term goal of doubling the number of cycling trips and forms part of its strategy to reduce emissions, alleviate congestion and combat climate change.
Pic: Braintree District Council/Greenway North Essex
