Walking and cycling routes due for safety upgrades

Local planners say they are hoping to make walking, wheeling and cycling safer and easier across a town.

West Northamptonshire Council has started a consultation on a series of proposed active travel improvements across Brackley.

It hopes to support safer journeys to school, improve accessibility for people walking, wheeling and cycling, encourage healthier sustainable travel choices and enhance connections across the town centre.

Richard Butler, Reform UK's cabinet member for highways and transport, said: "Brackley continues to grow, and it's important that the town's transport network provides safe and attractive travel options for everyone."

The council said the consultation was part of its commitment to support the Local Transport Plan and Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan, which includes enhanced crossing points, wider footpaths, dropped kerbs, tactile paving and a shared footpath and cycleway.

In the Manor Road and Waynflete Avenue area, proposals include adding raised platforms to zebra crossings, widening footpaths, providing marked street parking, timed parking bays during school pick-ups and drop-offs, and changes to traffic circulation.

One key area identified by the council was the High Street and Northampton Road route where proposals include measures to reduce traffic speeds and create a continuous walking and cycling route between the A43 junction with Northampton Road, and Halse Road.

Butler said the proposals were particularly for short everyday journeys including travelling to school or work.

He said: "We want to make it easier and safer for people to travel around Brackley without hopping behind the wheel of a car.

"These are ideas at this stage, not final decisions, and community feedback will play a key role in shaping what happens next."

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