7 September 2012
It’s time to get serious about cycling!
That’s the Green Party’s message to council leaders as St Helens prepares to host cycling’s Tour of Britain.
Bradley Wiggins, Mark Cavendish and co. will come racing through the borough next Monday (10th September) – and St Helens Greens say the time is right for long-term investment locally in Britain’s booming leisure activity.
St Helens Green Party is proposing a network of safer cycle routes that open up the borough, and also link with regional and national networks such as the Trans-Pennine Trail.
Will Fitzpatrick of St Helens Green Party says:
“Thanks to British success at the Tour de France and the Olympics, cycling has never been so popular in this country.
“Hosting the Tour of Britain is a real coup for the borough. The next step should be to create a cycling legacy for thousands of local people who just want to get on a bike and go places.”
St Helens, Warrington and Halton councils were recently awarded more than £3million to invest in sustainable transport – and St Helens Green Party believes cycling should get its fair share.
The party is proposing a scheme similar to Preston’s innovative Guild Wheel – a 21 mile ‘greenway’ that encircles the city and connects it to the surrounding countryside.
Will Fitzpatrick continues:
“What better way could there be to mark the visit of adopted Lancastrian Bradley Wiggins than to invest in something that will encourage people to get active, make employment areas and beauty spots more accessible, and open up St Helens to the wider regional and national cycle networks?
“The St Helens cycle-way could also be used for walking, running and other outdoor pursuits – something for everyone.
“Routes would mainly be along existing paths, tracks and quieter roads – it’s just a question of being imaginative and creative, working with local communities and joining up the dots.”
Routes proposed by St Helens Greens include:
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