As part of the council’s drive to promote active travel, reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality, three new bike shelters have just been installed in council-owned car parks across the borough with an additional shelter due to be installed at Crown Court, Godalming next month.
Waverley Borough Council has been working with Parish and Town councils as well as representatives from Godalming, Farnham, Waverley Cycle Forums and Haslemere Vision to provide the new bike shelters which the council are hoping will encourage more people to ‘get on their bike!’.
The shelters have been sited in convenient locations across the borough including one at Haslemere High Street car park, two at Crown Court car park, Godalming (one already installed, a further shelter to be added soon) and one at Village Way, Cranleigh. Car park spaces will be reduced by just three at Haslemere and Godalming car parks. If this pilot scheme is successful, others will be rolled out across the borough.
Councillor Steve Williams, Waverley Borough Council’s Portfolio Holder for Environment and Sustainability, said:
“It is great to see these installed and open for business! It’s a great example of councils working together with local groups to successfully bring about a great resource for residents. Not only will this help our environment but also, those who want to cycle more whether that be for commuting, shopping or simply as a great way to explore our beautiful borough and all it has to offer.
“As a council working towards becoming carbon-neutral by 2030, one of our goals is to encourage active travel; cycling saves money which is even more important in these difficult times and I do hope that residents will make good use of them.”
Deputy Leader of Godalming Town Council, Councillor Clare Weightman, said:
“Cycling into our town has so many advantages - and it's free! We all benefit from fewer cars travelling into our lovely town, with less traffic and lower emissions. I'm delighted that Godalming Town Council is working together with Waverley to deliver better facilities for active travel. We need to make it as easy as possible for us all to adopt the lifestyle measures that benefit planet and people, and these bike shelters will hopefully encourage more residents and visitors to cycle in to Godalming."
Martin Archer from the Godalming Cycle Campaign added:
“Godalming Cycle Campaign are delighted to support the latest initiative of Godalming Town Council and Waverley Borough Council to improve facilities for cyclists. Cyclists will now be able to leave their bikes in a secure and dry facility located in the heart of the town. We share the vision to make Godalming a destination everyone can reach along safe and attractive active travel routes and see the new shelters as one element to achieving this aim.”
For more information on Waverley Borough Council’s Climate Strategy and Action Plan, including more information on Active Travel and the proposed Godalming Greenway Cycle route, visit our Waverley Borough Council - Climate change strategy and action plan webpage.