LAST month we suggested that increased use of bus services would lead to a more pleasant town centre. This month we are going to explore another method of getting around that would have the same effect, especially regarding easing traffic congestion. This one also has added health benefits: active travel.

Active travel mainly concerns walking and cycling, but also includes wheelchairs, mobility scooters, adapted cycles and e-cycles. The latter group are named ‘wheelers’.

The new government has indicated that active travel will be part of its National Integrated Transport Strategy. Hence it has the backing of Somerset Council, which admits that in recent times active travel hasn’t been given the priority it deserves. Part of the redress is the publication of ten year walking and cycling plans, LCWIPs, for a small selection of towns, with Wellington lucky enough to be one of them. It’s available on the county council website; type LCWIP into the search box of their home page. All parts of Wellington and Rockwell Green are within three miles of each other, ideal for active travel within the town.

Sustrans is a national charity dedicated to the needs of walkers, cyclists and wheelers. Their mantra is ‘we believe the places we live, work and enjoy ourselves should be planned around people, not cars’, a sentiment that chimes with the ethos of Transition. Sustrans’ ‘Walking and Cycling Index’ survey found that 36 per cent of car users do so because they feel they have no choice. So let’s provide them with one. It has been shown that high quality active travel infrastructure leads to high levels of active travel and all the benefits this brings. Such infrastructure not only gives the motorist a choice, but also benefits those that do not use cars, such as children, senior citizens, the disabled and those on limited incomes. It also benefits anyone who happens to be walking around a less traffic congested town centre. The same Sustrans survey found that 56 per cent of people support shifting investment from road building to active travel infrastructure and public transport, so the concept is popular.

The LCWIP for Wellington has exciting propositions for the town centre zone, including a 20mph speed limit, traffic calming, footway widening and a redesign of side road and accessway crossings to emphasise pedestrian priority. Some businesses may complain that they need the motorist, but experience elsewhere has shown that high quality active travel infrastructure can increase footfall in a town centre by up to 40 per cent.

Apart from endeavouring to walk, cycle or wheel where it’s presently possible, what can the individual do to start the process of achieving a high quality active travel network in the town? Well, the Wellington LCWIP is relying on public input, so have your say! Presently this can be done by emailing [email protected], although the council are promising further online consultation opportunities in the future.

by Steve Gregory,

TTW’s Transport and Active Travel representative