MORE than £580,000 has been awarded to Devon County Council to enable and encourage more people to walk and cycle.

The grant from the Active Travel Capability Fund is part of a national £32.9 million investment to help accelerate walking and cycling schemes across the country and make roads safer for everyone.

Although the government funding cannot be used for the construction of infrastructure, it can go towards the design of walking and cycling routes which could be included in future bids to the Active Travel Fund.

Initial designs are to be drawn up for strategic walking and cycling routes in Newton Abbot, Exeter and Barnstaple, as well as a potential new route between Crediton and Exeter.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Cabinet Member for Highway Management, said: ‘We’re really pleased to receive this grant.

‘This will help fund our long-term ambitions to expand our walking and cycling network across the county.

‘Not only will it enable us to continue to develop future plans it will also allow us to continue to promote active travel events and programmes such as our adult cycle confidence sessions.’

Proposals for new walking and cycling networks for several market and coastal towns will be developed, as well as further work on proposals for low traffic neighbourhood trials.

The allocation will also fund: expansion of the county’s programme of adult cycle confidence sessions; development of Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans which sets out a strategic approach for long term improvements; monitoring previous active travel schemes and expanding public engagement.

Active Travel Minister Jesse Norman said: ‘Leaving the car, and walking and cycling instead, is an easy way to get fit, save money and reduce your carbon footprint.

‘Better designed schemes, which take into account the views of local people will help deliver improvements that have widespread local support.

‘Skills training and local community engagement will help local authorities to make active travel an attractive choice for getting around.’

The Active Travel Capability Fund will also support local councils to train and retain engineers and planners to design, develop and consult on high-quality active travel schemes.

Active Travel England’s objective is for 50% of trips in England’s towns and cities to be walked, wheeled or cycled by 2030, in line with Devon County Council’s Exeter Transport Strategy.

Cycling UK has estimated that if people cycled short journeys, they would save an average of £126 per year in fuel costs.