Council to launch Travel Telford investment programme

The council has already bid for funding from the Department for Transport’s Local Sustainable Transport programme and has been successful in securing £3.5m of direct investment from Central Government.

The aim of Travel Telford will be to help reduce the impact of pollution and carbon emissions on the local environment as well as help support and stimulate economic growth across the whole borough.

Schemes included within the programme are focussed on three main target areas including tourism, business and schools.

Travel Telford currently incorporates eight main elements:

- Ironbridge Park and Ride/Gorge Connect: a new park and ride site will be opening in June this year with access into the heart of Ironbridge as well as services to Much Wenlock, birthplace of the modern Olympics.

- Silkin Way pedestrian and cycle path: an improved Silkin Way will provide excellent links to the heart of Telford including Telford Town Centre, the new Southwater development and Telford Town Park as well as better access to the Ironbridge World Heritage Site.

- Telford – Newport – Stafford Cycle Route: a new direct walking and cycling route from the county town of Stafford into the heart of the historic market town of Newport then into Telford to link up with the Silkin Way and Perry Way routes.

- Telford Central Railway Station: an improved pedestrian and cycle route from the railway station to the town centre, giving better access to major destinations including Telford Shopping Centre and Telford International Conference and Exhibition Centre.

- Reducing company carbon emissions: a major initiative to work with businesseses to help them become more environmentally friendly and demonstrate how adopting a sustainable approach to travel can help reduce their costs through business travel packages, travel plans and sustainable transport initiatives.

- Schools as key partners: working with them to help reduce transport carbon emissions as well as creating the next generation of safe cyclists and pedestrians.

- Walking and cycling: better facilities which will help aid and improve access to local centres and employment sites as well as encouraging more leisure cycling.

- Telford Town Centre box road improvements: The council has also submitted a bid for improvements to the Town Centre Box Road which if successful would lead to further town centre enhancements for pedestrians and cyclists.

Councillor Hilda Rhodes, cabinet member for Transport and Community Protection, said: “Travel Telford will cover a whole package of sustainable and environmentally friendly transport initiatives.

“It’s an exciting time for transport in Telford and Wrekin as we adapt the current car friendly transport system to become more flexible and easier to use for pedestrians and cyclists and Travel Telford will play a key role in making that a reality.

“It very much fits with our ethos as a co-operative council as sustainable transport networks can only be created with input and support of key partners and stakeholders and we look forward to working with a range of organisations as we implement these schemes.”