Express & Star

Town centre improvements to make it easier for walking and cycling in Stafford, Cannock and Lichfield

Highways improvements to make it easier for walking and cycling and to help social distancing in some of Staffordshire’s towns will go ahead this month.

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The temporary improvements are part of the county’s local cycling and walking infrastructure plan to encourage more people to travel this way, improve safety, and improve town streets.

Improvements will be carried out in Stafford, Cannock, Lichfield, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Burton and Tamworth.

Work will include temporary widening of pavements for both pedestrians and cyclists, cutting back vegetation, reduction in some town centre speed limits, and some changes to public areas and street furniture.

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David Williams, cabinet member for highways and transport at Staffordshire County Council said: “These temporary improvements are all part of our wider plans to get more people walking and cycling for leisure and for getting to and from work, school or college.

"In the short term this will make it easier for people to get around safely to help reduce the spread of coronavirus. But, longer term it will all help to improve people’s health and wellbeing, combat climate change, reduce air pollution and improve people’s access to jobs and education.

“More people have been walking or cycling as a result of the coronavirus crisis and we want to see this continue as life starts to get back to normal.

“Over the last five years over £7 million has already been invested in walking and cycling routes in these six towns. These temporary improvements, along with future schemes outlined in our local plan to improve sustainable transport will all help build on this success.”