Essex County Council is to receive £2.3 million towards a new cycling project in Clacton and Jaywick Sands. The funding for Essex Pedal Power will come from the Government’s Getting Building Fund, managed by the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP) and Essex Physical Activity Local Delivery Pilot (LDP).
Essex Pedal Power is a community-based project, which provides residents with a free quality bike to get them more active and travel for work, school, college, shopping and leisure. Qualifying residents will benefit from improved access to employment, education opportunities and public services. The introduction of more accessible modes of active travel within coastal areas, will also help improve the mental and physical wellbeing of the local community.
Under the scheme the bikes will initially be loaned for a year, however, if the traceable GPS tracker indicates that the bikes are being used regularly, residents will be able to keep the bike.
Essex Pedal Power will be piloted in Clacton and Jaywick Sands and if successful, rolled out to other areas of Essex. Alongside the bike scheme, the programme will include significant upgrades to the existing cycling infrastructure between Jaywick Sands and Clacton, including direct access to Clacton train station, Clacton High Street and the Pier.
Additional support services will be delivered including training packages to assist residents to learn to ride a bike and undertake basic bike maintenance as well as new cycle infrastructure, including local storage facilities and bike parking which will be planned and delivered in partnership with the local community. The project will create new community cycling clubs, and the feasibility of a new cycling facility in Jaywick Sands for children and young people.
Essex County Council will be working with a range of partners including The Active Wellbeing Society (TAWS) Active Essex Local Delivery Pilot, Tendring District Council, Sport England and local stakeholders and community groups to deliver the scheme which is set to launch in spring 2021.
Essex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Cllr Tony Ball said: “This is an exciting new scheme aimed at tackling inequality and providing low cost, sustainable transport to communities in Essex. Not only will it provide economic benefits, it will also improve the health and wellbeing of the local community.”
Further details on the project can be viewed on the submissions page on the SELEP website.
