We have approached the Government with 30 towpath improvement schemes for inner city and urban areas, as the Government signalled plans for a walking and cycling 'revolution'
The proposed improvements include places such as Burnley, Wigan, Sheffield, Bradford, Birmingham, Leicester and London. We are seeking to secure a combination of government and local authority funding for the schemes.
Towpaths are ideally located to provide traffic-free routes in and through many of the country’s towns and cities, connecting people and places. The proposed investment will support more active travel - investment in walking is the most green (sustainable) as well as most inclusive (equitable/affordable) option - reducing obesity and encouraging lifestyle changes to support better physical and mental health, notably in the many disadvantaged communities with waterways on their doorstep.
Richard Parry, our chief executive, said: "Many of Britain’s historic canal towpaths saw a significant increase in usage during lock-down as people stayed local and discovered these green/blue linear parks on their doorstep. Post lock-down, for the eight million people living by a canal, this trend has continued."
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Posted On: 12/08/2020