A Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) is a 10-year infrastructure plan, setting out a prioritised cycling and walking route network which has the greatest potential to increase levels of walking and cycling in the area, to benefit the most people. The document will also include some concept scheme ideas of how the network could potentially be improved.

The LCWIP sets out the council’s long-term vision and proposals for investment in a prioritised cycling and walking network. Delivery of LCWIPs will be dependent on us securing the necessary funding, including from Government and from developers (e.g. builders of new housing estates).

Central Government have set out that local authorities that have LCWIP’s in place will be best placed to secure funding to deliver cycling and walking schemes and programmes in future. The LCWIP will also support future growth set out in the Local Plan to help ensure cycling and walking are at the heart of future development, creating sustainable greener places for communities to live, work and visit.

Your feedback would be welcomed on:

· The identified draft cycling and walking network, e.g. is there a key route missing that lots of people currently use, or could use if improved, or do you feel a change to an identified route is needed?

· Comments on types of infrastructure improvements you would like to see on the cycling and walking network - such as dedicated cycle lanes, junction improvements, benches etc.

· Other feedback you think would be of value in developing the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan for this area

You can add a marker on the network map to make a comment and let us know what's working, any hazards, and routes you'd like to see.

There is no limit, and we would welcome all feedback, be it general comments on the network or comments on specific parts of the network.

No. This is a draft network developed from all the data and evidence work undertaken as part of the development process set out in government LCWIP guidance. All feedback will be considered alongside the data to develop the final version of the network.

Feedback received from all stakeholders including; residents, businesses, visitors and local elected councillors, will inform and help shape the final draft LCWIP.

Yes. Once initial feedback has been considered and draft plan developed, there will be further opportunity to provide feedback on the final draft LCWIP later in the year. Following adoption of the plan, as funding is secured to deliver the schemes further engagement with the local community will take place on the details before they are delivered.

Sections of the network are identified by their use and how many people are expected to use the route, these are generally defined in the Government guidance as:

· Prestige walking zones: Very busy areas of towns, with high public space and street scene contribution.

· Primary Walking Routes: Busy urban shopping and business areas, and main pedestrian routes.

· Primary Cycle routes: High number of cycle movements linking large residential areas to key destinations such as a town centre.

· Secondary Cycle routes: Medium number of cycle movements linking key trip attractors such as schools, colleges and employment sites.

· Secondary Walking Routes: Medium usage routes through local areas feeding into primary routes, local shopping centres, etc.

· Local Cycle routes: Lower number of movements, catering for local trips, often linking to primary or secondary desire lines.

· Link footways: Linking local access footways through urban areas and busy rural footways.

The LCWIP is a 10-year infrastructure plan, and once the Plan is adopted it will begin to be used to secure funding from central Government, via bids, and from land developer obligations and contributions in the planning area, to deliver the improvements schemes going forward.

Subject to funding LCC is intending to develop LCWIP’s for all county towns and urban areas of the county surrounding Leicester City, as these are the areas that offer the greatest potential to increase levels of walking and cycling. In addition, LCC is supporting District authorities developing their own LCWIP’s for other areas.

There will also be a limited amount of funding available for delivery of cycling and walking infrastructure and programme from central Government, and land developers as part of future growth. Therefore, any funding secured needs to be spent wisely on improvements to cycling and walking routes and areas that benefit the most people, to enable and encourage them to travel more sustainably for their shorter journeys.

An area outside of an LCWIP area does not preclude cycling and walking improvements being made where funding is identified and where they would be benefit in encouraging significant numbers of people to cycle and walk. New, and improvements to existing, Cycling and walking facilities will still be expected from land developers as part of future growth in all areas, including outside of LCWIP areas.

LCWIPs are not static documents. They will be reviewed at key points and updated to take account of changing priorities as schemes are delivered and needs of cyclists, pedestrians, and equestrians evolve.

Feedback received will be considered alongside the data evidence collated as part of the LCWIP development process, to help shape and create an updated network plan and identify potential concept plans of infrastructure for inclusion in the final draft LCWIP.

There will be further opportunity to provide feedback on the final draft LCWIP later in the year, and a summary of the engagement will be available to view on our You said, we did page.

The proposals that were developed as part of the original strategy work are currently being reviewed and will be developed in consultation with the identified LCWIP network.