SANDBACH'S main thoroughfare is being earmarked for a new scheme to promote cycling and walking.

High Street could form part of a second phase of projects to be developed by Cheshire East Council after a £588,000 government award for active travel.

The council wants to hear people's views on the latest schemes so they can be refined before being finalised and implemented. Unlike the council's first-phase emergency temporary schemes, it is intended the new projects will be permanent.

Cllr Laura Crane, Cheshire East Council Cabinet member for highways and waste, said: "This is excellent news for local residents and their communities as we know ditching the car and taking up daily walking or cycling is good for your health and good for the environment.

"Creating a safer environment for walking and cycling in our towns will hopefully encourage more people out of their cars and to be more active.

"Recent surveys found that, across England, 65 per cent of people supported reallocating road space to walking and cycling in their local area and nearly eight out of 10 people support measures to reduce road traffic in their neighbourhood.

"This new funding will enable the council to consult before progressing more schemes to boost active travel infrastructure for our residents."

Along with ongoing government support to Cheshire East's bus services, the council wants active travel schemes to ensure local transport networks serve everyone's travel needs during the pandemic.

The first phase of the projects attracted £155,000 of funding in August for the development of eight emergency active travel schemes.

They included the introduction of a 20mph zone and suspending parking bays on Old Middlewich Road (from its junction with Middlewich Road to its junction with Hightown) to improve cycle access into Sandbach town centre.

Speed limits of 20mph are also being implemented on main roads and residential roads around the town centre.

Other schemes being considered for the next phase are those in:

• Vernon Way, Mill Street and Nantwich Road
• West Street and Mill Street, Congleton
• St Ann's Road, Middlewich
• Black Lane, Manchester Road and Sunderland Street, Macclesfield

Cllr Crane added: "These are exciting projects and part of several steps being taken by this council to encourage more people to get active. We will continue to work with town and parish councils to shape the schemes that go forward for consultation.

"Our aim is to deliver active travel projects that are right for each town and developed in partnership with each local area and local members.

"We are grateful the government has placed greater emphasis on community engagement and support than on speed of delivery. We welcome the scope for public consultation before schemes are implemented."

Visit the [l} https://cheshireeastactivetravel.commonplace.is/ [L+] website [.L] to view details of the current active travel measures in place and give your feedback.