Location: Blaby, Leicestershire
Purpose: Blaby Council reduced nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution levels in four of its air quality management areas (AQMAs) to below the government’s statutory limits over five years. The improvements in air quality partly came from encouraging residents to walk and cycle more. However, two AQMAs remain and the council wants to continue to lower pollution. It developed an active travel strategy to reduce congestion, improve air quality, boost physical activity amongst residents, and create safer roads. Blaby Council also recognised that endless road expansion was not financially or economically sustainable and better active travel could help to keep costs under control.
Description: The strategy plans to secure funding to create safe, direct and connected walking and cycling routes. As safety concerns discourage more residents from cycling, the council’s strategy focused on supporting businesses to provide employees with secure bike storage and showers, creating school streets and no-parking zones around schools, auditing the quality of existing infrastructure, and plans to ensure all new developments are easy to walk and cycle around. The strategy also highlights that active travel has benefits such as less congestion, cleaner air, better physical and mental health, and safer roads and is thus a cost-effective solution to numerous council priorities.
Funding: The council plans to seek private sponsorship to fund some schemes like Bikeability training in schools and will align its plans to fit the Department for Transport’s guidance for active travel to secure central government funding.
Conservative councillor/ council lead: Cllr Cheryl Cashmore, Portfolio Holder for Health, Leisure, Climate and Economic Development
Further links: Blaby District Council active travel strategy, Blaby District Council active travel action plan, Blaby District Council local cycling and walking infrastructure plan, and Blaby District Council AQMA write-up.
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