Dear Cheshire West and Chester,

Active travel and sustainable transport are too important to be allowed to fail. 

Only a bold strategy will succeed in delivering the carbon reduction that needs to be achieved in order to mitigate climate change.

The undersigned, residents and commuters within the City of Chester, support the intention displayed by CWAC to promote active travel as the first choice for short journeys across the district. We ask you to:

Resist calls by a vocal minority to cancel the experimental Travel Lanes  implemented on the A51, Grosvenor Bridge, and Liverpool Road;

1. adapt them where possible to reduce traffic congestion,
2. connect them to existing active travel infrastructures,
3. run a full trial so that the right decisions can be made, supported by facts.

Engage with residents:

1. Communicate that changes in transportation behaviour take years, building upon the experience of other cities and countries.
2. Widely advertise the active travel plans for Cheshire West and Chester.
3. Organise public consultation where measures can be explained and debated.

Be ambitious for Chester i.e. urgently develop and implement a low-carbon integrated travel strategy that includes:

1. uninterrupted and safe cycle routes between all neighbourhoods, the city centre, schools, workplaces,  the main shopping areas and leisure facilities.
2. facilities to make walking and cycling the travel modes of choice
3. affordable car sharing/rental,
4. electric travel infrastructure,
5. improved bus services. 

We owe it to our children and grandchildren to support successful implementation in Cheshire West and Chester as soon as possible.