[UPDATE 24/10/23: this consultation is now closed]
At the meeting of Full Council in September, Members approved a draft Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) for the Isles of Scilly. This document sets out proposals to improve the highways and footways to encourage more walking, wheeling and cycling on St Mary’s.
The Department for Transport (DfT) requires all Local Authorities to have a LCWIP in place in order to be eligible to apply for government funding to pay for identified improvements for active travel. Active Travel funding can only apply to St Mary's because it is the only island with public highways.
We’re asking residents and stakeholders to review the draft plan and provide comments.
How to provide your views on the draft LCWIP
You can read the draft LCWIP and find out how to submit your comments on our LCWIP webpage.
You have until midnight on Sunday, 22 October 2023 to provide your views.
How the draft plan was developed
The draft LCWIP was produced using funding received from the DfT. DfT appointed Sustrans, Living Streets and Cycling UK to provide review and support services to the Council in the plan preparation stage. This included a period of public consultation. Richard Lewis, an independent consultant, was then subcontracted by DfT to draft the LCWIP for the Isles of Scilly.
How we used feedback from the previous consultation period
The draft LCWIP sets out a wide range of projects, including proposals to widen and improve pavements on St Mary’s - making them more accessible - and to provide a new, dedicated cycling and walking route to Five Islands Academy along the route known locally as the ‘dump path.’ Feedback from the public during the previous public consultation confirmed that this route is deemed a high priority by residents.
Members have also approved a proposal to develop feasibility designs to deliver a walking, wheeling and cycling project linking Telegraph Road and Old Town Road, to make it safer and easier for people to go to and from school along the dump path.
Online workshops about improvements to the dump path
The draft conceptual designs for improving the dump path for walking, wheeling and cycling will be made available for the first time during two public workshops to be hosted by the Council online on Tuesday, 3 October 2023.
The workshops will run from 10.00-11.30, and from 18.00-19.30 via Zoom. These workshops will explain the concepts and give the community an opportunity to provide initial feedback. Comments on the designs can be submitted to the team via email at environment@scilly.gov.uk following the workshops.
Full details about how to access these workshops can be found on our LCWIP webpage.
Design work for this project has been funded from the £11,000 grant received from Active Travel England. Once feedback has been received from the public, plans will be drawn up in more detail and used to bid for further funding to deliver the project.
Councillor Steve Sims, Lead Member for Economy, Tourism and Transport said: “This is an opportunity for the public to feedback on our draft Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan and sketch designs for a new route along the dump path through Doiley’s Wood. If we’re successful in future funding bids, the new path would provide a much improved, more accessible and safer way to reach important facilities including the school, nursery and sports centre.”
Councillor Joel Williams, Lead Member for Children, said: “Active travel is critically important for our children’s personal development and future success. It improves their health and wellbeing and educational performance and, if children travel independently, it reduces the need for parents to use a car. I’m really proud that the islands have such high levels of walking and cycling already, but we must do all we can to make it safer and easier for everyone to make healthier and more environmentally conscious choices as part of their daily routine.”