Sustainable travel in Oswestry – meeting to set year’s plan of action

Following on from a very well attended public meeting in September 2011 to discuss the new Local Sustainable Transport Fund benefiting Oswestry, a first steering group meeting will take place tomorrow night (Thursday 8 December 2011) from 7pm at the Memorial Hall in Oswestry.

A number of things have already happened including the replacement of the traffic lights at the Church Street/Upper Brook Street junction, production of the first edition of the Oswestry walking and cycling map, and various Love your Bike month events during October in local primary schools.

Key plans and ideas generated to date will be drawn together to set a plan of action for the next 12 months. The package of initiatives will aim to improve access to work and education and boost sustainable tourism whilst reducing carbon emissions and improving health.

Councillor Simon Jones, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member with responsibility for transport, said:

“The package of initiatives have already and will continue to bring a real benefit to Oswestry, helping to improve access to work and education and boosting sustainable tourism whilst reducing congestion, carbon emissions and improving health. I would urge everyone to find out what is going on and see how they can get involved.”

Martin Bennett, Shropshire Councillor for Oswestry East, said:

“At a time when there are very tight curbs on public spending it’s good to know that Oswestry is in line for improvements which can be paid for by the use of this external funding. I hope that there will be a large number of people at the meeting to give their views on what they think needs to be done.”

To find out more or get involved, people should call Julie Potter, Shropshire Council’s travel Shropshire manager on 01743 253001 or email julie.potter@shropshire.gov.uk.

Alternatively people can visit the council’s website.