Cheshire's Commitment

Cheshire East Council have so far agreed to:

• support the SUSTRANS national cycle network and national cycling targets (Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution)
  
• define and encourage safer and more comprehensive urban cycle networks through local transportation studies and local plans
  
• encourage the provision of secure cycle parking in town centres, railway stations, public buildings and places of work
  
• promote leisure use of cycling and links between tourist attractions
  
• ensure there is cycling provision within the layout and design of new development
  
• promote cycling through TravelWise (Sustainable Transport Strategy July 1996)

Cheshire's Agenda 21

In 1996 the county council established the Sustainable Cheshire Forum to prepare Cheshire's Agenda 21, a plan of action for environmental sustainability in the 21st century. The 50 partners on the Forum include representatives from community and voluntary organisations, environmental groups, the business sector and elected representatives.

The Forum has identified key issues and set targets to reduce adverse impacts upon the environment. Transport has significant implications for the environment and for health. Targets include:

• reducing journeys to work by car from 70% to 60% between 1991 and 2011
• doubling cycle journeys by 2002 and doubling again by 2011
• increasing travel by public transport from 12% to 20% by 2005
• developing a network of safe routes to schools
• doubling the amount of freight carried by rail, water and pipeline by 2011.

Regular monitoring will report on progress made towards these and other targets.

TravelWise

Cheshire County Council signed up to the TravelWise campaign in 1996. This is the brand name to a campaign, supported by 40 other local authorities, to raise awareness about the problems associated with car travel, especially worsening traffic congestion and air pollution attributed to car exhaust emissions. Instead, it acts to promote the greater use of suitable alternative modes of travel such as cycling as well as walking, public transport and car sharing.

Cheshire East Council is itself taking steps to introduce a comprehensive staff travel strategy to encourage a reduction in its own travel demand both to and from the workplace and for business travel. Green Commuter Plans are one way that Cheshire East Council is encouraging businesses to consider how their employees might use more sustainable ways of travelling to work; cycling is being promoted as an alternative option to the motorcar. By taking positive steps to demonstrate its own commitment to developing a more sustainable approach to transport, Cheshire East Council hopes it can encourage others to follow suit and endorse and actively pursue the objectives of its sustainable transport initiatives.

Cheshire Sustainable Tourism Strategy

The Cheshire Tourism Strategy Review (1994) advocates that the "County Council pursue tourism initiatives which are consistent with the philosophy of developing sustainable tourism".  As a result, a Cheshire Sustainable Tourism Strategy was produced in 1996.