People living in Neath Port Talbot are being asked for their advice on plans to improve cycling and walking (Active Travel) routes in towns and villages throughout the county borough.
By upgrading and creating new walking and cycling routes, the council plans to make Active Travel the “normal” way to make local journeys, improving air quality, promoting healthier lifestyles and increasing the attractiveness of local communities as places to live and work.
Neath Port Talbot Council is currently working with Sustrans Cymru as part of Neath Port Talbot’s Active Travel Network Map consultation (ATNM).
The Active Travel Network Map is a plan of routes the council will use to inform where improvements to walking and cycling should be made in Neath Port Talbot. It will help to make journeys on foot or by bicycle easier and safer for everyone, particularly those who don’t currently walk or cycle often and people who use mobility aids.
There will be lots of ways for members of the public to get involved in consultation on the new Active Travel Network Map, the first phase of consultation beginning on Friday (November 27th).
The council’s consultation dates are listed below:
• Consultation 1, 27th November 2020- 15th January 2021: The council will be asking people’s views on walking and cycling routes in their local areas including identifying problems on a route. For example, this could be a junction that is difficult to cross, a pavement that is too narrow or a newly built cycle route that is regarded as a success. (There is a chance of winning £100 from a bike shop in a prize draw on this consultation if you ‘have your say’ via the council’s web page).
• Consultation 2, February- March 2021: This stage will involve sharing feedback from consultation 1 and asking people what they think of the plans the council is proposing as a result of the feedback it has been given.
• Consultation 3, July- October 2021: This twelve-week consultation will give members of the public a final say on the Active Travel Network Maps before it is sent to Welsh Government for approval. These maps will have been produced taking into account public feedback and ideas from consultations 1 and 2.
In order to design a network that works for everyone, the council would like to get the views of as many people as possible, particularly those who don’t currently walk or cycle.
This will help the council make sure the routes built for walking and cycling work for the whole community.
Cllr Annette Wingrave, Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Sustainable Development, said: “Active Travel journeys provide a large number of benefits from improving people’s health and wellbeing to helping to reduce carbon and improve our air quality.
“This consultation exercise is now a good opportunity for Neath Port Talbot residents to tell us exactly what they would like to see included on our future Active Travel Network Map.”
Link to consultation: https://neathporttalbot.commonplace.is/
