How you can shape Norfolk's walking and cycling future

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It's Shaun here with another Wednesday round up.

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📰Today's edition

• Active travel
• Toothache
• Fantastic addition
• Golden Jubilee
• On song
• All aboard
• More possibilities
• Out and about

Ok, let's get going!

Active Travel

Walking and cycling should be the first choice of travel for short journeys in the city and Norfolk's towns.

That's the verdict of a new strategy unveiled this week to get more of us out of our cars.

Norfolk County Council is launching a public consultation on its draft walking, wheeling and cycling strategy.

Why it matters

With the county's population set to grow to more than a million by 2036 and plans for more than 80,000 new homes over the next 20 years the authority is looking at how to encourage more alternatives to the car.

The plans build on existing policies (known as LCWIPs) for Greater Norwich, Great Yarmouth and King's Lynn and have been drawn up following discussions with district councils and Active Norfolk.

But they go further with proposals for encouraging more walking and cycling in 20 towns across the county including Aylsham, Attleborough, North Walsham, Wymondham and Hethersett.

The counter view

Ironically the consultation comes as the government has agreed to support the outline business case for the Norwich Western Link road - which critics believe will encourage more motoring and emissions, though the authority regards as key to its plans to cut congestion and improve air quality.

Others such as the Norwich Cycling Campaign have told The Seeker that existing schemes are not ambitious enough to produce a step change in behaviour.

Details in the latest plan include a wish list of cycling and walking schemes County Hall would like to develop if it can secure the cash to do so.

Now the authority wants to hear what you think about the plans - however, you only have until November 24 to have your say.

Graham Plant, cabinet member for highways, infrastructure and transport, said the idea was to make walking, wheeling and cycling the 'natural first choice' for many journeys and to be in a position to make the case to central government for funding.

“We want to support the growing population in Norfolk to choose sustainable transport whenever possible," he said. "This will help create and support healthy communities, enable our transport network to run effectively, emit fewer harmful emissions, and help protect our environment as much as we can.”