Some £1m was recently awarded to Essex County Council to encourage active travel across the region after the local authority made a successful bid to the UK government.
The £1m in active travel capability funding will be allocated to the planning and development of walking and cycling networks over the next 10 years.
Part of this will include running local engagement events to support residents and businesses to receive feedback on the shape of networks across the county, as well as having input to school streets and liveable neighbourhoods.
Feedback from these engagement sessions will input directly into the design of the new routes, the council has said.
Lee Scott, councillor and cabinet member for highways maintenance and sustainable transport at Essex County Council, said: “The continued government commitment to encouraging more of our residents to walk and cycle is welcome.
“At the start of a new year many people are looking to improve their health as well as cut costs and reduce their carbon footprint.
“By leaving the car at home and choosing to walk or cycle, especially for shorter journeys, is an easy way to get fit, save money and do your bit for the planet.
“To encourage more people to walk or cycle, we need to deliver high-quality schemes that make it feel easy, safe and fun.
“This new funding will mean that we can improve our technical skills and better engage with the views of Essex people, ultimately helping us deliver improvements that have widespread local support.”
