Breadcrumbs
Greenways – every council should have one – 26 March 2003
Greenways are the ideal way to get people out of their cars. They provide alternative routes for riding, cycling or walking.
Five years of research and pilot studies by the Countryside Agency and local partners have shown that Greenways provide alternative, easier, safer, more attractive access to work, shops, schools, leisure and recreational facilities. They are an excellent solution, encouraging people towards a healthier life style, making them think about using sustainable forms of transport as a way to reduce traffic congestion and pollution and improve people’s quality of life.
“The Countryside Agency’s recent publication, Greenways Technical Guidance, contains the collated wisdom from six pilot areas. We hope it will help local authority officers in developing solutions in their own area. There is advice on issues such as planning, assessing demand, finding partners and funding, design, construction, implementation, promotion and maintenance. So come on councils, the demand is there.,” says Wendy Thompson, senior Countryside Agency officer, speaking at the launch today (Wednesday, 26 March) of Lincoln’s Riverside Path Greenway, by Steve Norris, Chair of the National Cycling Strategy Board and candidate in next year’s London Mayoral election.
A survey by MORi revealed that 87 per cent of people would like councils to create safe cycling facilities. The Lincoln Riverside Path Greenway, for example, carries 1,300 users per day and is especially used by commuters to gain access to the Lincoln city centre. Cycling along the path increased by 50 per cent in two years.
Notes for editors
For further information, contact Countryside Agency press office on 0207 340 2907 or out of hours 07900 608 204.
The Countryside Agency is the statutory body, working to make life better for people in the countryside, and improve the quality of the countryside for everyone.
The Countryside Agency published Greenways Technical Guidance in November 2002. It aims to help local authorities, especially those with a remit for transport, health, recreation and/or tourism to benefit from the lessons learnt from the Countryside Agency’s pilot work. When drawing up plans to improve networks of routes for walking, cycling and horse riding, Greenways may provide the solutions highways authorities need. Highways authorities have a new duty to prepare Rights of Way Improvement Plans under the Countryside and Rights of Way (Crow) Act 2000).
The guidance is based on the Agency’s experience of co-ordinating six Greenways Demonstration Projects in South East Dorset, Greater Lincoln, Mersey Forest, Furness in Cumbria, South Hertfordshire and Swindon. The demonstrations ran for three years and investigated the strategy of developing a Greenway across a range of urban and urban fringe locations. By creating Greenways as routes connecting people to facilities and open spaces in and around towns, cities and the countryside, councils can help contribute to improvements in health, road safety, the environment and the local economy.
