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Plans for new cycle lanes and walking routes set for thumbs up

Plans to develop new cycle lanes and walking routes in the borough to improve air quality and cut congestion are set to be backed by council chiefs.

Dudley Council’s cabinet will be asked to approve the Black Country Walking, Wheeling and Cycling Plan (BCWWCP) at a meeting next week.

The blueprint has been developed collaboratively by Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton councils to encourage walking, wheeling and cycling as alternative modes of transport.

It identifies nine cycle routes and three core walking zones for development within the borough.

They are:

  • Himley to Stourbridge
  • Brierley Hill to Cradley Heath
  • Dudley to Cradley Heath
  • A4101 Pensnett to Dudley town centre
  • Pensnett to Upper Gornal
  • Smestow Valley Leisure Route
  • A458 to Woodgate Valley
  • Stourbridge to Halesowen
  • Hagley to M5 Junction 3
  • DY5 Enterprise Zone (EZ) and Brierley Hill
  • Stourbridge Interchange/Stourbridge Junction/Town Centre
  • Kingswinford

A consultation last year revealed 86 per cent of respondents either agreed or strongly agreed that it would be valuable to have a walking, wheeling and cycling network in the Black Country.

The report says it is anticipated most of the funding to develop and deliver the routes will come from external grants.

If it is given the green light, it will be adopted into ongoing work to develop the Dudley Local Plan, which will set out development in the borough over the next 15 years.

Councillor Damian Corfield, cabinet member for highways and environmental services, said:

“With transport the single largest cause of carbon emissions, this plan will be a significant part of the borough’s route to net zero by 2041.

“By enabling more people to travel in greener ways, it will help to reduce carbon emissions, lower congestion levels and improve air quality.

“It also helps to support the actions we have set out in the Dudley Council Climate Action Plan.

“For those reasons, I am happy to support this and will be encouraging cabinet to do the same."

The plan will be discussed at the next meeting of Dudley Council’s cabinet. It takes place on Wednesday February 12 in Committee Room 2 at Dudley Council House, and members of the public are welcome to attend.

Contact Information

Dudley Council

pressoffice@dudley.gov.uk