A number of initiatives have been introduced in Cumbria to encourage children and young people, as well as members of the wider community, to be more active.
Members of Cumberland and Westmorland & Furness Councils’ joint overview and scrutiny committee met at Redhills Conference Centre near Penrith on Tuesday (June 9) to hear an update from the Active Travel Service.
Members were told that the Bikeability initiative, which was formerly known as the Cycling Proficiency Test, and the aim was to encourage people to be more active by walking and cycling on shorter journeys as an alternative to using their cars.
The report states: “Active Travel to Schools is a county-wide programme that works with schools, families, and partners to increase walking, wheeling, scooting and cycling on the journey to school. It sits within Active Cumbria’s wider mission of improving lives through physical activity.
“The Active Travel to School officer’s role includes planning, managing, and monitoring the delivery of the Bikeability grant across Cumbria, ensuring that ATE funding is translated into effective local delivery.”
Members heard that the programme is delivered using grant funding of £277,115 which, indicative figures predict, will rise to an allocation of £281,511 for 2027/28 and £288,953 for 2028/29.
They were told that a separate Feet First initiative, which is a five-day active challenge, had 7000 children taking part each term. The Active Travel Service representative said: “It’s something that schools come back to and participate again.”
Councillor Roger Dobson (Corby and Hayton, Lib Dems) said their presentation was ‘very encouraging’. He observed that some of the Bikeability training was carried out on quiet roads and wondered if they used dedicated cycle paths which presented challenges for walkers and cyclists? He was told that they were working with officers from both councils to explore routes.
And councillor Martin Harris (Dearham and Broughton, Labour) asked if there were funds available to make rural roads, which often had no pavements, safer for pedestrians and he was told there was no additional budget and the primary uptake was predominantly in urban areas.
According to the report the Age UK Rollator Project, which is a loan scheme offering rollators and confidence sessions, helps older adults regain independent mobility. It states: “The project aims to support 150 participants in Carlisle to progress from safe movement at home to active travel outdoors.”
Councillor Carni McCarron-Holmes (Maryport North, Labour) asked if there was engagement with retirement homes in the county regarding rollators? She was told that Age UK was currently working with homes in the Carlisle area.
According to the report the Travel Actively Programme was launched in 2023 following a grant of £100,000 to conduct a feasibility study on behaviour-change initiatives in Barrow-in-Furness and Carlisle.
So far, the team has awarded £459,388 from the fund to 28 community organisations and councillor Mike Mitchelson (Brampton, Conservative) asked what type of organisations they were? He was told they were a mix of charities and community interest companies (CIC).
Councillor Michael Hanley (Alston and Fellside, Labour) said his ward was probably the most isolated in the county and observed that everything seemed to go to Carlisle and Barrow-in-Furness. He added: “We will be way down the list.” He was told that the target was 50 per cent of journeys to be active by 2030 so it was a ‘high priority’.
Councillor Shirley Evans (Kendal Nether, Lib Dems) observed that, in mixed walking and cycle routes cyclists often ‘whizzed’ past pedestrians without sounding their bell to signal their presence and they assumed they had priority.
Referring to the Bikeability training for children she asked: “Do you say ‘you need a bell on your bike and you need to use it’?” She was told that the trainers were very diligent and focussed on the importance of things including wearing a helmet and the use of the bell.
Members noted the contents of the report and the committee will receive future reports regarding the work of the Active Travel to Schools Service as part of its forward plan.
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