THE council is investigating four areas to improve walking and cycling within the Royal Borough.

A number of improvements could be made around the borough using the £1.5m the council agreed to set aside within its walking and cycling capital programme budget.

These include junction improvement at the A308/Mill Lane, a walking and cycling corridor at Stovell Road/Barry Avenue, pedestrian crossing improvements in Datchet, and walking/cycling works in Maidenhead town centre.

These projects are indicative at the moment and requires further investigation works and consultation. More schemes could be added to the plan at a later date.

The plans are a part of the council’s 10-year local walking and cycling infrastructure plan (LCWIP), which was agreed upon by senior councillors at a cabinet meeting on Thursday, June 23.

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It was shaped by a borough-wide consultation last year called the big conversation where it identified the highest demand for walking and cycling improvements and review existing provisions.

Having an LCWIP will also enable the council to bid for future grants from government or other bodies to invest in the highways.

It was also used to identify and prioritise opportunities for targeted investment in cycle facilities, accessible walking routes and pedestrian spaces, temporary road closures at schools (school streets), and people-friendly streets – changes that can be made to neighbourhoods that reduce traffic dominance.

Councillor Phil Haseler, cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “We want walking and cycling to be more convenient, safe and enjoyable travel options for people of all ages and abilities. While not every journey can be walked or cycled, many of the shorter trips made in our borough could be made on foot or by bike with the right investment over the coming decade and beyond.

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“Our LCWIP identifies locations to target investment and how improvements can be made at specific sites. We want to provide the right infrastructure to support an increase in walking and cycling rates in the borough, and this in turn will help tackle congestion and climate change, as well as improve air quality and health and wellbeing.”