An active travel strategy is set to be drawn up in North Yorkshire to make walking, cycling, and other sustainable transport options a priority across the county.
North Yorkshire Council has agreed to look at setting out a vision for the strategy.
The initiative was put forward by Liberal Democrat councillors at a meeting last week.
Councillor Hannah Gostlow, who represents the Knaresborough East division, proposed a motion calling for the development of a comprehensive active travel strategy to improve public health, local economies, air quality, and community connectivity, as well as help to tackle congestion and contribute to the council’s climate goals.
Cllr Gostlow highlighted rising childhood obesity rates in North Yorkshire, which are now higher than the national average, and urged the council to take responsibility for shaping healthier environments for future generations.
Councillors agreed to a working party being formed to look at the issue, with its findings being fed into the new local transport plan.
Cllr Gostlow said:
“This is a small but welcome step forward. We need to stop waiting for national directives and start making active travel a strategic priority now.
“This isn’t just about transport; it’s about healthier people, healthy places, stronger communities, and a thriving local economy.
“If we want people to lead healthy lives, and be healthier in later life, we must enable healthier choices from the very beginning. We are these children’s local authority. Their schools, their communities, their environment and it’s on us.”
Speaking on the issue, Councillor Keane Duncan, executive member for highways and transportation, said the council was committed to developing an active travel strategy.
He added:
“First we need to develop the local transport plan.
“We’re going to work with the combined authority on this key strategic document — at the end of the day, they are the transport authority, not us.
“They will take the lead and we expect work on this to start this year.”
Cllr Duncan said the authority had secured two pots of funding of £1.23m and £370,000 for active travel schemes.
He added:
“We have schemes ready to be delivered using that funding and we also have local cycling and walking infrastructure plans agreed already all major settlements in North Yorkshire."
Pateley Bridge to host first New Year's Day cyclo-cross event
Harrogate MP welcomes government U-turn on family farm inheritance tax
Santa Paws: Festive photo competition winners revealed
DalesBus reveals timetable over Christmas period
Festive tractor run raises £45,000 for charity
CCTV appeal after Ripon shop theft
Yorkshire Vet Julian Norton meets fans in Harrogate
Santa delivers gifts to Harrogate children on all-electric sleigh
Rudy's Pizza set to open new Harrogate restaurant
75-year-old Ripon cyclist completes epic birthday challenge
Miriam Margolyes to visit Harrogate as part of upcoming tour
Towns must see benefits of any tourist tax, warns Harrogate MP
Police appeal for wanted man who could be in Ripon
Harrogate school 'takes Law into its own hands' with rare A Level course
CCTV appeal after motorbike stolen in Harrogate
Specsavers Harrogate hosts free after-hours clinic for homeless residents
Man charged following Pateley Bridge hit-and-run
Banyan in Harrogate set to close
Knaresborough boys 'devastated' after beloved cat goes missing
Knaresborough tug-of-war tradition to return on Boxing Day
