St Helens Council has announced that a £2.2m investment has been made to improve active travel and green spaces across the borough.

In partnership with Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, the council has confirmed that its Sustainable Urban Development Scheme has been completed to make the region a “better place to live, work and help towards net zero carbon ambitions”.  

The scheme is part of Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram’s plans to create a 600km network of new and upgraded cycling and walking routes across the region, reports the St Helens Star.

Part-funded by the European Region Development Fund and the LCRCA’s Transforming City Fund, the St Helens Sustainable Urban Development Scheme resulted in:  

• 7km of improved cycleways along Sankey Valley from Collier’s Moss to St Helens Town Centre  
• 120,000 square metres of habitat and biodiversity improvements 
• Refurbishment and improvement of three highway structures, including a new footbridge over Rainford Brook in Ravenhead Greenway  

The Sustainable Urban Development Scheme follows the council’s Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan, which has set out the delivery of safe travel infrastructure such as protected cycling lanes along Chester Lane, Jubits Lane and Clock Face Road, as well as the recently-completed CYCLOPS junction in Lea Green.

The council have also asked residents to have their say on new active travel routes around Haydock and Blackbrook, reports the St Helens Star story.

Commenting on the works, Councillor Seve Gomez-Aspron MBE, St Helens Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Strategic Transport, said:   “Whether it’s for a primary source of transport or exercise – walking, cycling and even running is more appealing with an attractive environment such as greenery and waterways which we’re fortunate to have here – but It’s all about having the sound infrastructure in place to ensure they can be used and enjoyed to their full potential, which the Sustainable Urban Development Scheme enables us to achieve.  

“Of course, none of this would be possible without the support of the LCRCA who we will continue to work with so that we can deliver more improvements which as well as encouraging active travel benefits mental and physical wellbeing as we look to create and well-connected network which supports our economic growth development and decarbonisation ambitions.”   

Simon O’Brien, Liverpool City Region Walking and Cycling Commissioner added: “It’s fantastic to see these improvements to walking and cycling routes, as well to the public realm, in St Helens. 

“Not only are these enhanced footpaths and cycleways going to help people take journeys by bike or foot more safely and with confidence, they’re also an amazing opportunity to change the way we think about our local area and how we travel around it. 

“These schemes, and others like them across of city region, are going to encourage people to leave the car behind and help to create a whole new generation of walkers and cyclists.”