9 September 2021 Safer, Greener, Healthier

Essex residents help shape future of active travel by backing aims of Safer, Greener, Healthier campaign

Report of Essex County Council Active Travel Consultation published today

Active Travel Fund Tranche 2 Consultation Report

Essex residents back the aims of ECC’s Safer, Greener, Healthier Active Travel campaign with almost three quarters (74%) supporting prioritising and increasing space for walking whilst 66% support more space for cycling.

The report of the recent Active Travel Consultation, published today, is available for everyone to read online.

In the report, on a county-wide level, traffic congestion, air pollution and road safety were top of concerns.

The six-week consultation ran from 27th May to 11th July and out of the 2,482 responses received:

  • 86% of respondents said that they were concerned or very concerned about traffic congestion

  • 80% of respondents said that they were concerned or very concerned about air pollution

  • 86% of respondents said that they were concerned or very concerned about road safety

The consultation also sought feedback on five proposed schemes in Braintree, Brentwood, Chelmsford, Colchester and Wickford.

On a level local to each of the five schemes, responses were varied, reflecting the complexity of the proposals. There is great support for elements of the schemes which respondents saw as increasing safety in the local area, such as the introduction of school streets, or where residents can see the creation of a route which supported journeys they are likely to make.

Concerns were raised on aspects of the schemes which would see restrictions placed on car travel, both in terms of inconvenience and the potential movement of traffic to other roads.

Cllr Lee Scott, Cabinet Member for Highways Maintenance and Sustainable Transport at Essex County Council, said: “It is clear there is widespread support for the aims expressed in our Safer, Greener, Healthier transport agenda with particular concern expressed about congestion and air pollution across the county.

“The results show a wide variety of views for the proposals covering the five locations. I have always said this consultation is about Essex County Council listening. We have engaged with communities and spoken to people face to face and all these responses will be taken into account.

“I will now be considering the findings and making my recommendations toward a final decision being announced by ECC.

“I’d like to thank everybody who took the time to take part and give us their feedback in our recent active travel survey.”