The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority says its work to boost walking, wheeling and cycling in Cambridgeshire has been rewarded with a visit by the Government’s dedicated active travel team.

Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Dr Nik Johnson hosted the fact-finding visit by Active Travel England’s CEO, Danny Williams and his colleagues.

The visit comes hard on the heels of Active Travel England’s welcome award to the Combined Authority of almost one million pounds over and above the region’s draft allocation.

Fenland District Council, CamCycle, Healthwatch, the Greater Cambridge Partnership, and the two Highways Authorities, Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council were among those represented at the meeting, as well as the Combined Authority’s transport and active travel teams.

Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Dr Nik Johnson, said: “It wasn’t just that our region was proud and honoured to be hosting the CEO of Active Travel England and members of his team, but those eager faces in the room all sharing the passion to change how people of every ability get about our beautiful region.

"We were there to work together creatively, positively and smartly to bring a transport revolution about”.

Greeted at Peterborough Station by Cambridgeshire & Peterborough deputy mayor Cllr Anna Smith, the ATE delegation was shown existing and planned active travel infrastructure in the Peterborough Station Quarter, which is set for a major redesign with the needs of walkers, cyclists and wheelers at its heart.

“The ATE team was particularly impressive in answering questions very openly and honestly.

"The overall message from this thoroughly modern, toned, and healthy new arm of the Department for Transport was that there’s a helping hand at the end of it - and Active Travel England is ‘here to assist’."

“It was great to be in the same room as so many people fired up by active travel.

"As a medical doctor, the promotion of fitness and wellbeing is very close to my heart, and the powerful link between public health and walking, cycling, wheeling or riding out in the fresh air is key to that.

"My passion for an active travel that dovetails with good and reliable public transport really drives the work that we do here at the Combined Authority."