A public consultation is live on the proposed North East Active Travel Strategy – a half a billion-pound plan to revitalise walking, wheeling and cycling in the region.

The proposals outline regional ambition to ensure that over half of all short journeys in the region will be made by active travel by 2035 – positive news for our environment, public health and the local economy. To do this, we would need a 45% increase is walking, wheeling and cycling.

The consultation will run until 5 March 2023 and local people are urged to have their say and fill in the online survey to share their views.

A number of online events will run throughout the consultation period alongside drop in sessions in Durham, Northumberland and Tyne and Wear, full details can be found at www.transportnortheast.gov.uk/neactivetravel

Cllr Martin Gannon, Chair of the North East Joint Transport Committee welcomed the launch of the new consultation and commented: “The proposed strategy shows the region’s ambition for active travel and our desire to make it the first choice for everyday trips. It formalises our plans for active travel schemes, including infrastructure schemes and ‘behaviour change’ campaigns which include education and training to help more local people walk, wheel and cycle.

“These initiatives would reduce the reliance on cars and increase physical activity levels. This will help people to lead healthier lives, while lowering carbon emissions and boosting the regional economy – we all win in this scenario. To help individuals make the most of active travel and enjoy the many benefits, we need to ensure the network is first-rate so that walking, wheeling and cycling are easy things to do, and they are intuitive ways to travel right across the region.

“I hope people take the opportunity to read the proposed strategy and take part in the public consultation. We’ve outlined a half a billion-pound plan to ramp up active travel and we would love to know what residents think and if there’s anything they’d like to see as part of the strategy. We welcome feedback which will help us to strengthen the strategy and ensure it delivers for the North East.”

If over half of short journeys in the region are made by active travel by 2035, this would bring forward huge benefits including:

• Preventing around 1,000 premature deaths by 2035 – primarily due to increased physical activity levels
• Reducing carbon emissions – potentially saving around 80,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year
• Growing our regional economy by approximately £350m a year
• Improved connectedness of communities and reduce social isolation
• Improved air quality and lower noise levels as congestion eases
• Save petrol and diesel car drivers on average around £70 per year

How to get involved

To read the strategy and find out more, please visit www.transportnortheast.gov.uk/neactivetravel. The consultation closes at midnight on 5 March 2023. Should you need any assistance or wish to discuss your views please call 0191 433 2973 or email activetravel@transportnortheast.gov.uk

Online consultation events

A number of online consultation events will be held in February, which will offer a presentation on the proposed strategy and an opportunity for members of the public and stakeholders to ask questions. Each session will provide the same overview, so please register to attend whichever session you find to be most convenient.

Online events will take place on Zoom on the following dates:

• Thursday 2 February, 17:30 – 18:30
• Saturday 11 February, 10:00 –11:00
• Wednesday 22 February, 08:00 – 09:00
• Tuesday 28 February, 12.30 – 13.30

Please register on Eventbrite if you would like to attend an online session and you will receive a link via email to access the virtual meeting.

Drop in sessions

You can also come along to one of the nine drop in sessions taking place across Tyne and Wear, Durham and Northumberland in January and February 2023. These are informal local drop in sessions should you wish to pop along and ask a question or fill in a comment card.

• 31 January 2023, 10am-2pm, Community Space, Metrocentre, Gateshead
• 1 February 2023, 10am-2pm, Clayport Library, Durham
• 8 February 2023, 10am-2pm, The Word, South Shields
• 13 February 2023, 10am-2pm, Bishop Auckland Town Hall
• 14 February 2023, 10am-2pm, Newcastle City Library, Newcastle city centre
• 15 February 2023, 10am-2pm, Beacon Shopping Centre, North Shields town centre
• 17 February 2023, 10am-2pm, Wentworth Leisure Centre, Hexham
• 22 February 2023, 10am-2pm, Sunderland Winter Gardens, Sunderland city centre
• 28 February, 10am-2pm, Alnwick Community Centre

If you have any questions or would like to request documents in an alternative format, please call 0191 433 2973 or email activetravel@transportnortheast.gov.uk

You can also write to:
Transport North East
C/o Gateshead Civic Centre
Regent Street
Gateshead
NE8 1HH