Wiltshire Council is asking people in Marlborough, Tidworth and Ludgershall, Malmesbury, Bradford on Avon and Westbury to help shape the future of walking and cycling routes across the five towns.

Residents’ views and ideas will be used to help create draft Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPs) for each town, ahead of a final round of consultation once the draft plans have been prepared.

LCWIPs identify local cycling and walking networks and set out how these routes can be improved over time. The aim is to create safe, coherent and connected networks for pedestrians and cyclists, making it easier for people to travel on foot or by bike, and in turn helping to improve air quality, reduce traffic congestion and cut carbon emissions.

Once finalised, an LCWIP forms the basis for future cycling and walking improvements in that area. Crucially, it also helps to secure potential future funding from Active Travel England (ATE).

The council has already published LCWIPs for Salisbury, Chippenham, Devizes and Trowbridge, with six more due for publication in the coming weeks, these are Amesbury, Calne, Corsham, Melksham, Royal Wootton Bassett and Warminster.

Cllr Martin Smith, Cabinet Member for Highways, said: “LCWIPs are essential strategic blueprints for improving cycling and walking infrastructure, so it’s important for residents of Marlborough, Tidworth, Malmesbury, Bradford on Avon and Westbury to get involved in this consultation. Their feedback will play a crucial role in shaping future walking and cycling developments in these communities.

“This stage of the consultation enables people to highlight specific improvements and suggestions they would like to see by adding comments directly onto a map of each town.

“We have committed, through our Business Plan, to promoting more walking and cycling, and these LCWIPs will help turn that ambition into reality.”

This consultation is open from Monday 23 February until Monday 23 March. To find out more and share their views, people should go to: https://wiltshirecouncilconsultations.commonplace.is/