Cheshire East becomes North West’s only authority to improve Active Travel rating

Cheshire East Council has been recognised for its work to encourage more walking, wheeling and cycling - with the success of its recently completed Southern Gateway scheme in Crewe helping to unlock funding.

The council has advanced from Level 1 to Level 2 in Active Travel England’s 2025 Capability Ratings, making it the only local authority in the North West to improve its rating this year.

Councillor Mark Goldsmith, chair of Cheshire East Council’s highways and transport committee, said:

“This improved rating shows we are delivering high-quality schemes that provide safe, accessible and attractive routes across the borough for walking, wheeling and cycling.

“A great example of this is our Southern Gateway scheme in Crewe, which is part of a wider project to improve access to the town centre from the south of Crewe, including from the railway station.

“As a result of the assessment by Active Travel England ( ATE ), we have been awarded £6.5m in funding for the next four years to further improve our Active Travel infrastructure, which is a key factor for Cheshire East to achieve Level 3 and Level 4 ratings.

“This is an important step in delivering on our vision for active travel and the priority routes identified in the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans. which were consulted on earlier this year.

“Our aim is to create a borough where active travel is the natural choice for local journeys, whether that’s getting to school, work or to enjoy time socialising with friends or family.”

In making their assessment,  ATE assessors praised the council’s submission, recognising the hard work and enthusiasm of officers in improving local capability and performance, often in challenging circumstances.

Councillor Ben Wye, Cheshire East Council’s active travel member champion, said:

“Cheshire East is one of only 10 authorities to be awarded increased funding for Active Travel.

“It means that we can accelerate progress and prove that we have the capacity for even more projects to make walking, wheeling and cycling the preferred option for short journeys, through a connected, safe and accessible network that supports a healthy Cheshire East.”