The announcement will allow the Council to build on its successful work which includes the ‘Ideas in Motion’ campaign and has already seen an 11% reduction in the number of people travelling to work by car or van and a 14% increase in the number of people walking to work.
The new funding will allow work on sustainable transport projects to continue, including more work on personal travel planning with partners at the local university, college and local businesses.
Other projects that the money will help to fund will include:
- Continuation of the Ideas in Motion campaign through the development of personal travel planning (PTP) smartphone app and targeted marketing to promote walking, cycling and public transport
- Providing on-site PTP advice, education and support to local companies, including developing workplace travel plans with them, higher education providers and job centres
- Joint project between the Council and Sustrans to embed cycling in the primary and secondary school curriculum
- Improving sustainable transport links through wayfinding and signage and encouraging the use of new walking and cycling routes
- Supporting a further social enterprise hub to complement the Comfy Saddle which is focused on rail passengers
“The team have some exciting new ideas including working on a project to really embed cycling and its benefits into the schools’ curriculum locally. The money will also be used to build a new PTP smartphone app and promote walking, cycling and public transport.
“To work, these project need the backing of the local community, and I hope we can build on the success already achieved so people in Southend-on-Sea can enjoy better travel.”
Ideas in Motion was set up to help those people making changes in their travel habits share their ideas and they may find out a few hints and tips for themselves that will make life easier.
Ideas in Motion is underpinned by practical improvements to public transport in Southend including electronic timetables at bus stops and real time bus information being installed.
For more information, visit: http://www.ideasinmotionsouthend.co.uk/