LEADING Thurrock councillors have rubber-stamped a new plan that they say will make walking, wheeling and cycling a better option for short journeys in the borough.

As previewed on Thurrock Nub News last week, the Thurrock Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan looks at ways to encourage anyone heading out for a short local trip to leave the car at home and cycle or walk instead, and create a plan which can help guide future development in a way that promotes active travel.

It says the council aims to increase levels of walking, wheeling and cycling local trips to main town centres, schools, train stations and large retail and employment sites.

And there are proposals for "traffic-calmed streets" with speed limits of 20mph include stretches of London Road, Purfleet, and West Thurrock and Southend Road, Stanford-le-Hope.

The report says streets that carry less than 2,000 vehicles per day are considered to be low traffic streets enabling people to cycle and walk safely and comfortably.

The council has received over £1.7m in government funding to help create better walking and cycling paths across the borough and adopting a Thurrock Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan is essential for accessing future funding to develop active travel.

Cllr Victoria Holloway, cabinet member for place and the environment, saud, after the cabinet meeting: "We want to do all we can to help make sure that residents have great options to make local trips on foot or by bike.

"This plan sets out the best ways we can go about making sure that walking, wheeling or cycling are the natural first choices for short local trips. The plan sets out improvements to make those journeys easier and more pleasant, such as crossing and junction improvements, footpath improvements and traffic calming measures; all in line with the latest government standards.

"There are significant benefits to active travel including exercise and health benefits, reducing local pollution and the fact that it does not cost anything to walk or cycle locally.

"This plan sets out in detail what can be done at a strategic level, as plans are progressed consultation will be carried out with residents on individual schemes."

The plan is available at: https://democracy.thurrock.gov.uk/documents/s46813/Appendix%201%20-%20Thurrock%20Local%20Cycling%20and%20Walking%20Infrastructure%20Plan.pdf