Preston City Council commissions the Activation of Active Travel Programme

Preston City Council has successfully commissioned the Activation of Active Travel Programme to four local providers who will support residents to become happier and healthier as they get more active through cycling, wheeling and walking.

The funding was secured from Lancashire County Council to improve walking, cycling and wheeling facilities with the aim of boosting these forms of active travel. The Active Travel programme aims to put in place measures to support and encourage residents to change their behaviour and use existing active travel infrastructure. It will support Preston in achieving its priorities by helping residents, particularly underrepresented groups, to do more cycling, wheeling and walking for everyday journeys.

The scheme also advances the Council’s Community Wealth Building strategy by enabling collaborative work with local partners to encourage residents to use local assets for community and environmental benefit.

County Councillor Michael Green, Cabinet member for Health and Wellbeing at Lancashire County Council, said:  "Lancashire County Council allocated £30,000 to support this project, which aims to enhance targeted infrastructure such as cycle lanes, junction improvements, and pavements.

“These improvements align with Lancashire’s Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans and Highway Masterplan. The project aims to improve access to walking, cycling and wheeling modes of travel, such as wheelchairs and mobility scooters, particularly for hard-to-reach groups who are less likely to engage in physical activity. This initiative is fantastic for the overall health and wellbeing of the community."

Preston has a large amount of public green spaces ideal for cycling and walking such as Avenham Park, Moor Park and The Guild Wheel. Further developments and public realm improvements such as the new tram bridge and Queen’s Street cycle route are also ongoing, funded by central government.

Councillor Zafar Coupland, Preston City Council Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing said:

“This is a wonderful initiative encouraging Preston residents to make the most of the incredible spaces we have on our doorstep. Not only, will this programme encourage people to become more active, but it will also give residents the opportunity to discover places they may not have been to before.”

Together, these projects will build the confidence and skills of residents in the city supporting them to take part in cycling, wheeling and walking. They will particularly target underrepresented and vulnerable groups such as ethnic minority communities, those living in socio-economically deprived communities, and those with a disability or long-term health condition.

The Activation programme comprises of three projects and four delivery partners:

•             Supporting cycle commuting will be delivered by Preston Pedals, a community organisation that promotes a culture of everyday cycling in Preston for proven benefits for health and wellbeing, as well as tackling climate change.

Dr. Julie Ridley, Co-director of Preston Pedals Ltd. said: "Preston Pedals are excited to be awarded the grant for cycle commuting. We're looking forward to working with volunteer Ride Buddies who will be trained as ride leaders, and we'll support them to buddy others to cycle more. 

“Together we'll create commuting routes for everyday cycling on quieter and off road in different parts of Preston, test them out, then turn these user-friendly routes into digital and paper maps for more people to use."

•             Accessible cycling events will be delivered by Wheels for All, who currently have a Hub at UCLan Sports Arena and provide inclusive cycling sessions that embrace all children and adults with disabilities and differing needs to engage with quality cycling activity, using adapted cycles such as handcycles, trikes and wheelchair transporters to assist in building confidence and independence in cycling.

Ian Tierney, CEO of Wheels for All said: "Wheels for All is really excited to be part of the Preston Active Travel scheme. Our programme will consist of a series of outreach accessible cycling activities across the city of Preston giving people all abilities the chance to enjoy accessible cycling in their local communities".

•             Widening Participation in Walking will be delivered by Preston Muslim Forum and Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Preston Muslim Forum seeks to improve the lives and wellbeing of black, Asian and ethnic minority communities in the inner wards of Preston by fostering understanding and co-operation and providing training and skills. Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust will support staff, patients and carers to get out for regular walks around Preston and Chorley and South Ribble Hospitals by providing training to walking leaders.

Neil Pease, Chief People Officer at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, said: “We are delighted to have been successful in our bid for funding from Lancashire County Council’s Active Travel Scheme. Our colleagues told us that they would like to increase the amount of physical activity they do at work – and our new walking scheme will be the perfect way to do this.

“As part of the new walking scheme, we will develop a network of trained walk leaders who will help our colleagues to participate in a planned programme of regular walking activities. Our walk leaders will be organising and leading short, pre-planned lunchtime walks around local routes, which will help our colleagues to build their confidence and enjoy the many benefits of exercise as part of their daily lives.

“Thank you to the County Council for enabling us to offer this fantastic opportunity, which we believe has the potential to make a big difference to the health and wellbeing of many colleagues.”

The Active Travel programme promises to be a positive addition to the existing schemes that are already on offer in Preston such as free tennis lessons and football sessions, which have been a proven success in various parks across Preston.