A project to help make streets safer and cleaner and encourage more people to walk is being launched in Dudley.

The ‘Fitter for Walking’ scheme has received lottery funding and will have input from national charity Living Streets.

The charity says people are more likely to leave their cars at home and walk to work or the shops if the streets feel safe and are not dirty.

It is teaming up with the council which is keen to improve streets in the borough and encourage people to get walking. Cabinet member for transportation, councillor Angus Adams, said: “Anything which encourages people to leave their cars at home and walk should be welcomed.

“Not only will it reduce congestion and air pollution, it will also help people to become more fit and healthy. It’s important that we lead by example and encourage the next generation to do the same.”

Chief executive of Living Streets, Tony Armstrong, said: “This is a very exciting project for us, and we are really pleased to be working with Dudley Council on it.

“We want to make real, lasting differences to areas around here by finding out from residents how they want their neighbourhood to change and then helping them do it.

“When more people in an area are walking regularly, it doesn’t just help them get healthy it means roads are less congested, we are all breathing in less pollution, and neighbours see each other on the streets and feel more of a community.”

The charity’s West Midlands Regional Co-ordinator is Hema Kasi-Patel who will be working closely with residents and said: “We all hear a lot about the need to increase the amount of exercise we take, and for busy people the best answer to that can be leaving the car keys at home and walking more as part of their daily routine.” 

Call 07595 781875 or email hema.kasi-patel@livingstreets.org.uk