Sun shines on Spring Active and Sustainable travel event

The event is part of the travel planning process for the Marsh Lane development, which aims to minimise car journeys in new developments by helping people to choose alternative ways of getting around.

Cllr Michael de Whalley, the borough council’s cabinet member for climate change and biodiversity, said:

“There are significant issues facing our planet and it can feel as though the problem is too big for us to contemplate as individuals.

“However, we can all play a part by choosing to travel more sustainably, for example by walking, cycling or catching a bus instead of driving when we need to go somewhere.

“Together, our small acts add up to a big difference.

“It’s great to see the borough council working with communities to show people the kind of travel choices they can make and support them to put those choices into action.”

At the event, residents had the opportunity to find out more about different ways of travelling more sustainably, and how choosing more active and sustainable travel would have direct benefits for them, such as improving fitness.

The police provided advice on bicycle safety and undertook bicycle checks, and staff from Alive West Norfolk were on hand to provide residents with information on a range of local sport and fitness activities for all abilities and ages. Go To Town buses attended the event, to provide residents with information about their local bus services.

To encourage these residents to be more active and get walking, cycling or using the local bus services, free incentives were on offer: giveaways included bike lights, bike pumps and hi-viz vests for children, metal water bottles, umbrellas, hi-vis armbands for residents who want to give walking a go, and weekly bus passes.

Sandra Holmes from Royal HaskoningDHV, who is the Marsh Lane Travel Plan Co-ordinator and working with the Borough Council to deliver the travel plan for Marsh Lane, said:

“The Spring Event was a great opportunity to meet with residents, and provide them with useful information on walking, cycling and bus services in their local area. Residents appreciated the free incentives, and many residents took the opportunity to place their order!

“Residents understand the need to improve fitness, to become more active and travel in more sustainable ways, and it was fantastic to see many young people wanting to walk or cycle to school. Residents requested walking and cycling maps, and more information about safe walking and cycling routes between Marsh Lane and the town centre and local schools – this will be provided in the Summer Newsletter in July.”