Hampshire County Council and Winchester City Council are running a consultation between Monday 13 May and midnight on Sunday 14 July 2024 (11:59pm), to seek views on the first phase of the new draft Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan, (LCWIP), which proposes an extensive network of cycle routes across the district together with extra walking zones for the main residential centres - these will be prioritised for investment in the future.
Having your say
Feedback on the routes and areas proposed in the consultation can be provided online via: Winchester District Focus LCWIP.
Councillor Rob Humby, Leader of Hampshire County Council, said: “The County Council has committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. With 37% or more of all carbon arising from how we travel, it’s important that we focus on greener ways to get around so that we can go beyond the Government’s ambition for 50% or more of all short journeys, particularly in urban areas, to be walked or cycled. This draft Plan sets out how this might be achieved across the Winchester district and is a first and necessary step in securing the funding from Government to deliver this ambition locally.
“Whether you are a Winchester resident, business, visitor or other interested party, providing your feedback in this consultation is a chance to inform proposals to help make it easier and safer for people to walk and cycle in the area.”
Councillor Kelsie Learney, Winchester City Council Cabinet Member for the Climate Emergency, said: “Walking and cycling are the cheap and healthy ways to make everyday trips to work, to the shops and to school but many of our residents find these journeys feel unsafe or unpleasant. This project will provide the framework for the investment throughout our district which would encourage leaving the car behind. Although we have put a lot of work in already, only local people can tell us if we have our routes right and we really want to see their response to this consultation.”
The LCWIP for Winchester is being created in two phases. Firstly, the development of a wider district walking and cycling network, followed by a city focused network to make one, holistic network which covers both rural and urban Winchester.
LCWIPs will be key to the delivery of the County Council’s recently adopted Local Transport Plan - that aims to influence and shape the way people travel over the next ten or more years, and boost economic prosperity, reduce carbon pollution, help promote healthy lifestyles and build stronger communities.