Knutsford Town Council has adopted a new plan to enhance walking and cycling

Developing an Active Travel Infrastructure Plan was a key objective in the council’s strategic plan, which set an aim to enable residents to choose to reduce their reliance on cars by improving the desirability of walking, cycling and using public transport.

The overarching objective of the plan is to make Knutsford a place where residents feel able to choose to walk and cycle rather than using a car for local journeys. It aims to guide work to make infrastructure changes that make walking and cycling easier and safer.

The plan builds on the Knutsford Cycle Infrastructure Plan which was developed by Cycle Knutsford as part of the Neighbourhood Plan and adds action for supporting walking across the town.

It will sit alongside the Cheshire East Council Local Cycling and Walking Plan for Knutsford which focuses on more strategic routes. The Town Council’s plan is more locally focused with practical changes that making walking and cycling easier.

Cllr Scott Lowe, who led the council’s Active Travel Infrastructure Plan working group said:

“It was clear from the consultation that improving people’s experiences of walking and cycling around our town was really important.”

The plan was informed by a community survey in 2025 which invited residents to share their views on walking and cycling in the town.

Actions to enhance walking include:

• Installing benches long key walking routes to support those who need to rest along routes
• Seeking formal crossings at key points including Mobberley Road near St Cross Church, Chelford Road by the Legh Arms and Toft Road by Leycester Road.
• Seeking dropped kerbs along primary walking routes so wheelchair users can travel more easily
• Exploring street lighting schemes on Sparrow Lane, by Woodlands Court and along Church Walk

The Town Council will also explore how it can improve the maintenance of pavements, removing overgrown vegetation, leaves and detritus, to ensure full widths of pavements are available year round.

Additionally, the council will look to support cycling by installing covered/uncovered cycle parking stands at key locations across the town, exploring the creation of cycle ways along arterial roads and seeking 20mph limits on appropriate streets. 

The council will fund minor improvements through revenue budgets, whilst seeking grants where possible. The council will also seek funding from development through community infrastructure levy and s106 planning obligations.

Cllr Lowe added:

“While we don't have a large budget, we still want to be ambitious in our target.  We will push to ensure developers help fund some of the infrastructure we need to mitigate the impact of all the new houses.”

The plan can be found at: 

www.knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk/services/active-travel

Pictured - Local Resident Kate Russell in the Silk Mill Street cycle shelter installed earlier this year.