CYCLISTS are to call for a share of £5million worth of funding in a bid to create a bike path when a public meeting is held in Oswestry next Thursday.
CYCLISTS are to call for a share of £5million worth of funding in a bid to create a bike path when a public meeting is held in Oswestry next Thursday.
Shropshire Council has been awarded almost £5million by the Department of Transport, following a bid to the Local Sustainable Transport Fund.
The money will be spent on a wide range of measures to boost the local economy and cut carbon emissions, and Oswestry’s cyclists are being urged to attend the public meeting to press for cash to support the cycle path scheme.
Shropshire Council’s bid included a package of measures to bring about changes in behaviour and greater use of more sustainable travel, such as walking, cycling and use public transport, and to better manage traffic.
This will include building on the successful work of the Cycle Shrewsbury campaign; setting up similar projects in Oswestry and Ludlow and promoting initiatives such as car-sharing, car clubs and hydrogen-powered vehicles.
Keen Oswestry cyclist Tim Rutherford is urging fellow enthusiasts to attend the meeting and back the plea for cash support for a cycling and walking path scheme alongside the Heritage Railway track.
“A cycle path may not normally be something to get too excited about, but in this case, it could be just the start of Oswestry building an identity as a place where getting about by foot and by bike is easier, cheaper and more pleasant than struggling with a car,” he said.
Benefits
“That could be important for shrinking incomes in the next few years,” added the 52 year old carpenter.
“It’s important that we make our voices heard now. What we hope to see developed fits perfectly into the criteria which has been set for this scheme and the benefits will be enormous.”
Shropshire Council wants to work with community groups, businesses, schools and people to improve sustainable transport.
The council has set up the meeting at Oswestry Memorial Hall in Smithfield Road next Thursday, September 15, at 7pm.
Councillor Simon Jones, Shropshire Council’s cabinet member for transport, said: “This is fantastic news for Shropshire Council but, most importantly, it’s great news for the people of Shropshire.
“The success of our bid is recognition of the excellent work already being done by the council and our partners, to encourage people to reduce car use, with the resulting financial, health and environmental benefits that this brings. I look forward to announcing exactly how the funding will be spent as soon as we can.”