Medway Council's Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) is a 10-year strategy to improve cycling and walking in Medway. This plan shows our commitment to fighting climate change and enhancing the health and wellbeing of our residents through active travel.
What an LCWIP is
We declared a climate emergency in 2019 and aim to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. The LCWIP is a key part of our efforts to address this and support Medway's future growth. By making cycling and walking safer and more attractive, we hope more people will choose these options for shorter journeys.
The LCWIP is a plan to promote active travel in Medway. It follows the national government’s strategies to make cycling and walking the natural choices for short trips. Our plan includes 6 stages, from setting the scope and gathering information to planning, auditing, consulting, and integrating into local policies.
Why it's important
Our LCWIP is essential for creating better walking and cycling routes in Medway. More walking and cycling can lead to cleaner air, less traffic, better health, and cost savings.
Key Benefits
- Improves health: Regular physical activity can reduce heart disease and early death risks
- Economic impact: Walking and cycling are cheap and reduce traffic, benefiting the economy
- Environmental benefits: Less car travel means lower greenhouse gas emissions and noise pollution
- Accessibility: Better walking and cycling routes make Medway more inclusive and accessible.
Recent improvements
We have invested in cycling and walking infrastructure over the past few years. Improvements include better cycle lanes, wider footpaths, and safer crossings.
Our School Streets programme also promotes safer travel to school by limiting vehicle access during peak times.
Consultation and results
We asked the public for feedback on the LCWIP's designs in 2024. The consultation showed strong support, highlighting the community's interest in better walking and cycling infrastructure. This feedback has helped us prioritise future investments.
Next steps
The LCWIP was approved as a formal policy by Cabinet in March 2025. This strategy supports future funding bids and integrates the plan into Medway's wider transport and development strategies.
Funding secured from Active Travel England is being used to develop 6 of the higher priority scheme concepts identified in the LCWIP to detailed design stage. Once complete, these scheme designs will form the basis for further public consultation.
The LCWIP remains a significant step towards achieving net zero carbon emissions and fostering a sustainable future for Medway.
More information
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