Brand new active travel initiative pedals into Norfolk

Norfolk County Council has today launched a brand new Community Active Travel Initiative which will benefit residents in Great Yarmouth and Norwich.

The initiative, which is being funded by money from the Capability Fund awarded to Norfolk County Council by Active Travel England, is being delivered by the walking, wheeling and cycling charity; Sustrans.

Cycling and walking interventions and activities will be delivered across Great Yarmouth and Norwich over the next 9 months with the objective of getting more people choosing to walk, wheel or cycle for short journeys.

Sessions will including the following:

• Social led rides
• Social led walks
• Cycle maintenance sessions
• Get to know your neighbourhood walks
• Learn to ride sessions (children and adults)
• Bike security marking
• And much more.

Councillor Graham Plant and the Mayor of Great Yarmouth, Councillor Paula Waters - Bunn joined members of the local community at a launch event today at Peggotty Road Community Centre in Great Yarmouth where a short led ride around the local area was enjoyed.

Cllr Graham Plant, cabinet member for highways, infrastructure and transport said; "This project is a fantastic opportunity to make a real difference to communities in Great Yarmouth and Norwich by offering free activities to enable more people to choose walking, cycling and wheeling for local journeys. This in turn has benefits for the wider neighbourhood by reducing noise and air pollution, promoting community cohesion and boosting local businesses."

Hannah Chivers, head of behaviour change and engagement at Sustrans said; "Sustrans is excited to be delivering the Norfolk Community Active Travel Initiative on behalf of Norfolk County Council. Active travel has huge benefits to an individual's physical and mental well being but can also save people money, open up new opportunities, and enable independence."

The Norfolk Community Active Travel Initiative aims to engage over 1,000 people in over 100 activities and will focus on communities in Great Yarmouth and Norwich that face greater socio-economic challenges, with the purpose of giving these communities the skills, opportunity and motivation to choose walking, wheeling and cycling for their everyday trips.

Danny Williams, chief executive of Active Travel England said: "We're delighted to see the launch of Norfolk's new Community Active Travel Initiative. Enabling more people to walk, wheel or cycle to where they need to be is one of the most effective actions we can take to improve the country's health and tackle climate change.We will continue to invest in fantastic initiatives like this to give communities better active travel options and build a happier, healthier and greener nation."

The cost of delivering this project is £87,000. It is being funded through money received from Active Travel England which supports local authorities to develop active travel infrastructure and to deliver programmes like this one, which encourage and enable people to walk, wheel and cycle more.

This initiative supports Norfolk County Council's Local Transport Plan 4 Strategy 2021 2036 achieving its Strategic Objectives: We want to improve the health of our residents by improving air quality and encouraging active travel options to improve health and fitness.

Encouraging more people to walk, wheel or cycle short journeys is key to our ambitious aims of achieving net-zero in Norfolk by 2030.

Norfolk County Council has committed to achieve 'net zero' carbon emissions on its estates by 2030, but within its wider area, to work with partners towards 'carbon neutrality'. This also supports the government's ambition for a net zero country by 2050.

We will achieve this by implementing carbon conscious ways of working across our buildings and supply chain; putting in place the right infrastructure across the county to support the move towards net-zero; and by working together with partners to lead and inspire our colleagues, citizens, communities, and businesses to take action and play their part in protecting Norfolk for future generations.

Sustrans is a charity making it easier for people to walk and cycle. Sustrans connect people and places, create liveable neighbourhoods, transform the school run and deliver a happier, healthier commute. Sustrans are also the custodian of the National Cycle Network. 

Information about events will be publicised on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sustranseastofengland

For more information about the initiative contact eastdelivery@sustrans.org.uk