Active travel

Infrastructure and improvements to encourage and enable more walking, wheeling and cycling.

Section of the emerging Linkway 2 cycle and pedestrian route alongside A4 London Road between Newbury and Thatcham

According to the National Travel Survey, 26 per cent of journeys made in 2022 were under one mile and 71% under five miles in length.

Many journeys of these lengths are well-suited to active travel: walking, cycling and wheeling.

Encouraging active travel

Active travel is affordable, delivers significant health benefits, has been shown to improve wellbeing, contributes to a reduction in traffic congestion, indirectly improves air quality and has no carbon emissions at the point of use.

The Government recently published its Gear Change vision, coupled with new guidance on Cycle Infrastructure Design and created a new executive agency Active Travel England to distribute active travel funding and oversee delivery.

Through these steps, the government has made clear to local authorities its expectation that quality infrastructure should be provided to enable people to make more of their local journeys by walking, wheeling or cycling, helping also to deliver the broader objective of a reduction in transport-related emissions.

West Berkshire Council aspires to create joined-up local networks and providing a lasting legacy of greener, safer transport.

Since 2020, the council has successfully bid to multiple funding streams made available by Active Travel England. This has helped the council to introduce initiatives including:

additional cycle parking in a number of our towns and villages
exemptions for cyclists in one-way streets
converting advisory cycle lanes (broken white line) to mandatory cycle lanes on the A4 through Thatcham (marked by a solid white line, which motor vehicles are not allowed to enter except in an emergency)

In addition, we consulted on the district's first School Street scheme in Calcot, new parking restrictions and other physical measures to improve existing cycle routes, and creation of a quiet rural route on Lawrence's Lane close to Thatcham. Our Active Travel Heat Map consultation gave residents the opportunity to identify other locations in local neighbourhoods where active travel improvements, such as new cycle parking, could be of benefit.

You can find out more about school streets on the pages listed at the bottom of this page.

Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan

Direction sign on the emerging Linkway 7, Western Avenue, Speen

Consultation in 2020-21, and close working with neighbouring authorities, informed the development of West Berkshire's Icon for pdf

Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) [15MB] (LCWIP), adopted in June 2021.

The LCWIP identifies joined-up strategic routes for cycling, walking and wheeling that the council aspires to create over time, subject to availability of funding for design and construction. The focus for the LCWIP is on the district's main urban areas, reflecting the national objective of encouraging active travel for short distance urban journeys.

The LCWIP was adopted in June 2021. It provides the framework for significant investment in infrastructure and supporting schemes. This framework has underpinned the council's construction of upgraded walking and cycling facilities along A4 London Road in Newbury, along the A4 through Thatcham and in A4 Western Avenue in Speen, and other initiatives such as School Streets.

You can find out more about school streets and cycleway/footway improvement schemes on the pages listed at the bottom of this page.

Delivery and development

Stage 1 of the Stockcross Linkway cycle- and pedestrian path

We continue to bid for external funding from Active Travel England and to co-ordinate closely with other organisations such as Sustrans in order to develop and deliver enhancements in line with the LCWIP, and across the district.

Using Active Travel Fund money awarded by Active Travel England, the council:

constructed Stage 1 of the Stockcross Linkway shared-use path, between Stockcross and the A4
is preparing to construct the Crown Mead scheme in Thatcham in late summer/autumn 2024

May 2023 saw the council secure £275,000 from Active Travel Fund 4. This funding has enabled:

introduction of an additional School Street scheme at Francis Baily School in Thatcham
development of proposals to improve the pedestrian and cycle connection between Theale and Calcot
assessment of scope to improve active travel routes adjoining Robin Hood Roundabout
development of plans for Stage 2 of the Stockcross Linkway, intended to connect into the wider Newbury area network via Speen Lane

Please remember that cycling on footways, including across bridges, is not allowed unless the footway is designated as a shared facility for both cyclists and pedestrians to use.