A transformative three-year project aimed at enhancing walking, wheeling and cycling across Worcester has been delivered — bringing safer routes, improved accessibility, and more sustainable travel choices to thousands of residents, commuters and visitors.
Worcester City Council and Worcestershire County Council have joined forces to invest £1.5 million in creating important new routes in the city for more active travel:
- Diglis to Carrington Bridge and St Peter’s
- Ronkswood to Worcestershire Royal Hospital, Warndon Villages and Red Hill
- Improvements to Diglis to Sixways route, along the canal towpath.
This major boost to active travel has been made possible by Worcester City Council securing a major Towns Fund grant from the Government, which has been invested under the Worcester Town Investment Plan.
Worcestershire County Council have delivered the improvements, also installing new crossings, traffic calming measures and accessibility improvements to make the routes more attractive and easy to use. These extra measures are thanks to additional funding from Active Travel England.
Key Achievements
- Safer routes for everyone
The project has introduced redesigned crossings and resurfaced footways — making every-day journeys safer and more comfortable, particularly for people using mobility aids, wheelchairs or pushchairs. - New and enhanced cycling opportunities
Improved cycle infrastructure, traffic-calmed neighbourhood streets, and new links to existing cycle networks have strengthened opportunities for both work trips and riding for pleasure. - More accessible than ever before
Kerb realignments, widened footways, tactile paving, three new traffic-light-controlled toucan crossings and more dropped kerbs have made routes more accessible for disabled people and others with mobility challenges. - Support for healthier, low-carbon travel
Worcester’s new active travel corridors will make a major contribution to both councils’ project contributes to wider climate and health goals by encouraging more people to leave the car at home and make short journeys by a more active method.
Positive Impact
Councillor Robyn Norfolk, Chair of Worcester City Council’s Place and Economic Committee, said: “This is a programme of improvements that will make a lasting impact to Worcester, opening up new opportunities for active travel.
“The walking, cycling and wheeling routes allow people to enjoy a healthier lifestyle and reduce the emissions they’d create by using a car instead. My thanks go to Worcestershire County Council for completing this work so successfully.”
Councillor Nik Price, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport at Worcestershire County Council, said: “We’re proud to have delivered these improvements, which make walking, wheeling and cycling safer and more accessible for everyone in Worcester. This project shows the real impact of working in partnership, and we’re grateful to Worcester City Council, the Canal & River Trust and Active Travel England for their support. These new routes will benefit residents and visitors for many years to come.”
Looking Ahead
The active travel journey doesn’t end here. The focus created by the active travel corridors initiative will continue with new routes to be set out in Worcestershire County Council’s upcoming Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans. That is part of a long-term commitment by the County Council to improve active travel connectivity and support sustainable transport across the city and the county.
