Posted on Monday 9th October 2023
Left to right: Local Sustrans volunteer Ben Stuart, Clare Maltby (Sustrans), Rob Hawkins and David Williams.
Work on a new town centre cycleway in Burton which will connect to a wider network to support sustainable and active travel has been completed.
The project has seen the creation of new cycleway on Station Street and Borough Road. The route links the town centre and railway station and is the first of future planned sections which will improve connectivity east to west across the town.
Further planned sections will connect to the town hall, canal, hospital, Shobnall Leisure Centre, schools, residential areas and the existing cycle network, including the National Cycle Network (NCN).
Funding for the scheme came from the Department for Transport through walking and cycling charity Sustrans as part of its Paths for Everyone project to improve the National Cycle Network. East Staffordshire Borough Council also contributed through its Town Deal fund allocation.
Clare Maltby, Sustrans’ England director Midlands and East, said:
As custodians of the National Cycle Network, which passes within one mile of around half of the UK population, we’re working with partners like Staffordshire County Council to make it safer and more accessible for everyone. Good routes are part of creating real choice for people to travel sustainably. These schemes demonstrate why it is so important that we have continued and sustained investment in active travel.”
Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet member for highways and transport David Williams said:
It’s fantastic to see the town centre cycleway project complete and we’d now urge people to use it to travel into town and enjoy everything local businesses have to offer.
Cycling improves people’s health and wellbeing, reduces congestion and carbon emissions and so it’s important that we can help to provide safer routes to encourage greater participation.
We understand there has been disruption, particularly to businesses, and would like to thank everyone for their understanding during the works period.
By making the town centre a more attractive place, we hope to increase visitor numbers to support the local economy. The project has been carried out with East Staffordshire Borough Council and Sustrans so it’s a true collaborative effort.”
East Staffordshire Borough Council’s cabinet member for regeneration and development Rob Hawkins said:
It’s great to see such improvements being made to Burton town centre. The new cycleway looks to reduce local emissions, giving residents the opportunity to leave the car at home and take alternative, greener modes of transport. I look forward to seeing the many ways in which this cycleway will positively impact the town going forward.”
Total funding for the scheme was £1.6million, though none came from the county council’s highways budget.