Putting the wheels in motion

Published: Wednesday, 1st February 2023

Local schools and a cycling group joined Sevenoaks District Council to launch the District’s first Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan

to deliver new cycling and walking routes within the Sevenoaks town.

Leader of the Council, Cllr Peter Fleming, launched the plan on Monday 30 January with pupils from Riverhead Infants’ School and the Weald of Kent annex and cyclists in Otford.

The plan was produced with help from Sustrans, a United Kingdom-based walking, wheeling and cycling charity, and the custodian of the National Cycle Network. It sets out eight potential routes in detail, how they should be prioritised and how they could be delivered.

The proposals include widening existing footpaths, the creation of new links between existing footpaths and upgrading road crossings to make the environment more cycling and walking friendly. It will cover much of Sevenoaks town and some surrounding areas.

The East to West Cycling and Walking route ranks as a top priority for the Council as it will link Riverhead and Amherst schools in the west of the town with Trinity, Weald of Kent and Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys annexes in the east.

There will also be routes off to Knole Academy and Sevenoaks Railway Station, picking up Sevenoaks Primary, Walthamstow Hall Junior School and Granville school, all on Bradbourne Park Road.

Cllr Peter Fleming says: “We are excited to be moving forward with a plan for new cycling and walking routes, which allows us to apply for funding to make these a reality. The success of the plan can already be seen in our bid to Government for a route that will connect many of the town’s schools with the communities they serve.

“By improving these connections, we are hoping the route will be popular with children, commuters and the wider community. Encouraging, supporting and making it easier and safer for residents to use sustainable forms of travel is a top priority and forms part of our Net Zero by 2030 ambitions for the District.

“This is the first Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan in the District and the good news is we also have funding in place for the next plan in Swanley and money to look at how the Otford to Sevenoaks route could be delivered.”

For more information, visit www.sevenoaks.gov.uk/sustainabletravel.