Council's green travel scheme bid given go ahead

Following approval on Thursday by the West Berkshire Council executive member for transport, Alan Law (Con, Basildon), on Thursday, the council will now use millions of pounds of developers cash to trigger a £4 million Department of Transport grant.
While in theory the entire district would benefit from the scheme Newbury and Thatcham are the two areas where the programme will be focussed, linked to the council’s Local Development Framework which outlines where 10,500 homes will be built, resulting in an increase in traffic flow around certain hotspots in the towns.
Key elements include:
• Upgraded bus routes along the Newbury to Thatcham corridor, including real-time passenger information.
• Extending a current bus link between Oxford, Didcot, Milton Park and Science Vale to Newbury and the Vodafone campus.
• Establishing a ‘Wheels 2 Work’ moped hire scheme to allow young people in rural areas to get to employment or training.
• Working with the Primary Care Trust and doctors on health referral projects to help people who, due to ill health, have become economically inactive, to get back into work.
• Dedicated work with employers and business parks to increase the number of employees walking or cycling to work, with a particular focus on those living within 2km (walking) and 5km (cycling).
• Travel planning and behaviour training for adults with special needs to allow them to travel without reliance on private vehicles and taxis.
• Upgrading of pedestrian and cycling signs within Newbury and Thatcham to improving access to services and facilities, and encourage walking and cycling.
Employers such as Vodafone in Newbury and Atomic Weapons Establishment in Aldermaston have signalled their approval.
The scheme should not cost the council a penny, as Section 106 money - cash from developers set aside to mitigate against large scale projects - is to be used to fund the bid.
In 2008 the council spent around £1,700 to make six bikes available for staff to ride to work and meetings, as part of a Greener and Cleaner push.