Draft Active Travel Strategy for Consultation

This document is a draft report requesting approval from the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee to proceed with consultation on the Council's Active Travel Strategy. The strategy aims to enhance opportunities for residents and visitors to engage in active travel, such as walking and cycling, thereby establishing a framework for future infrastructure development and behavior change initiatives. The report outlines the necessity of community consultation with various stakeholders, including Regional Transport Partnerships and local businesses, to ensure the strategy meets the needs of the community. Following the consultation, a subsidiary Active Travel Development Plan will be created, detailing prioritized actions for infrastructure and behavior change projects. The strategy is aligned with national funding requirements from the Scottish Government, which mandates that local authorities maintain an up-to-date Active Travel Strategy to qualify for funding. The document emphasizes the importance of community engagement and the potential benefits of active travel on health and local economies.