Council secures £1m for walking and cycling routes
Westmorland and Furness CouncilMore than £1m has been secured to improve walking and cycling routes in parts of Cumbria.
Westmorland and Furness Council has been awarded the funding by Active Travel England to develop new schemes to encourage people to reduce their reliance on cars.
The scheme will focus on Barrow, Kendal and Penrith.
The council's cabinet member for transport John Murray said the plans for the new infrastructure would create "greener, safer and more accessible environments".
"By investing in sustainable transport options, we aim to encourage more people to choose cycling, wheeling and walking for shorter journeys, helping to reduce congestion, improve air quality and enhance overall well-being in our communities," he said.
The funding, which totals almost £1.1m, includes £271,234 from the government's Active Travel 5 Fund and a further £828,086 from the Consolidated Active Travel Fund.
Work is already under way to create a cycling and walking route in Barrow and is expected to be completed later this year.
The route will separate cyclists from vehicles by widening footpaths between Vickerstown Park and Earnse Bay.
Preparations are also under way to invest in Barrow's Abbey Road.
The Liberal Democrat-led council said the new infrastructure was part of its plans to achieve its priorities on climate change, sustainable economic growth and helping communities lead healthy lives.