'Council's cycling and walking plans are unambitious', say Bromsgrove Lib Dems - The Bromsgrove Standard

'Council's cycling and walking plans are unambitious', say Bromsgrove Lib Dems

Bromsgrove Editorial 19th Nov, 2020   0

BROMSGROVE Liberal Democrats are calling on Worcestershire County Council to do more to increase active travel.

The group wants more ambitious plans from the ruling Conservative group, saying Bromsgrove had missed out on thousands of pounds to improve walking and cycling routes due to the ‘council’s poor bid’.

Josh Robinson, Bromsgrove Lib Dem chairman and a frequent cyclist, said: “Once again the Conservatives at Worcestershire County Council are letting us all down.

“Instead of being proud of painted signs on the floor, the council needs to get ambitious and provide the infrastructure needed to help reduce congestion in our town.”




Mr Robinson’s calls were echoed by fellow Lib Dem campaigner Sam Evans, who has been calling for the council to do more to improve active travel opportunities, particularly in light of the pandemic.

He added: “As we are still enduring Covid-19 the council needs to do more to provide opportunities to increase public health.


“We already know air pollution kills about 40,000 people per year.”

Coun Alan Amos, cabinet member for highways, told the Standard Bromsgrove had ‘benefited considerably’ on active travel in recent years.

Rebutting the Lib Dems’ claims, he said: “This work includes improvements to road crossings, the introduction of shared footways, updated routes through Sanders Park, traffic control measures, upgraded lighting and additional footway/cycleways to improve existing links.

“A further six large improvement schemes for Bromsgrove are included in the proposals for the A38 Bromsgrove Route Enhancement Programme, two of which we are planning to accelerate.”

He added across the county 40 schemes will have been delivered between September 2019 and March 2021, with further schemes in development for delivery over the next couple of years.

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