Millions given in bid to promote active travel

Millions of pounds have been awarded to a council to promote and invest in sustainable travel.

Active Travel England has given Suffolk County Council £12.5m to spend on footpaths, infrastructure and cycle lanes.

The money is for use between next year and 2030.

The council was awarded nearly £4m in similar funding earlier this year, and that was used for schemes including new pedestrian crossings in Bridge Street and College Road, Ipswich.

Chris Chambers, the Conservative council's cabinet member for transport strategy, said congestion and pollution was the "bane of our bigger towns".

He said: "We have to make it easier for residents and businesses in our towns to get around without having to rely on private vehicles which do so much to clog up our roads.

"Reducing congestion frees up road space for the traffic that does need to be there and creates a cleaner, better environment for everyone."

National Active Travel Commissioner Chris Boardman said the money would "give people more everyday choice in how they get around".

"We are not just building infrastructure... we are creating communities: places where parents feel confident letting children travel independently, and where older people can reach local shops with ease," he added.

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