The council is investing £450,000 of national Shared Prosperity Funding (SPF) to enhance around 25km of Warrington’s network of active travel routes. A range of improvements will be taking place over the coming months at a number of locations, including the scenic Sankey Valley and Trans Pennine Trail.

Part of the council’s wider strategy to invest in sustainable transport – and building on several successful active travel projects already delivered in Warrington – the latest investment aims to improve the condition of a number of routes and paths and encourage more people to walk, cycle, and wheel.

The latest works are focusing on addressing surface deterioration, making improvements for disabled people and refreshing outdated signage, to make routes more accessible, safe and enjoyable for everyone.

The scope of the project includes a variety of improvements tailored to each location:

• Path surface maintenance: Repairing worn-out surfaces, particularly on the Trans Pennine Trail, to improve users’ experience.
• Improved accessibility: Installing dropped kerbs and replacing A-frames with more suitable features to accommodate people with disabilities and adapted cycles.
• Enhanced signage: Upgrading and replacing outdated signage to improve wayfinding and route clarity.
• Vegetation clearance and buffer creation: Removing encroaching vegetation and creating grass buffers to protect paths from future overgrowth.

Warrington Borough Council Leader and cabinet member for transport, Cllr Hans Mundry, said: " These improvements support our ongoing work to make it easier and more pleasant for people to walk, cycle, and wheel, in every part of our borough.

“We are targeting areas that we know are in need of improvement or are inaccessible to people with disabilities. By investing in this way, our aim is to build sustainable transport into everyday life in Warrington, promoting healthier and more active lifestyles, reducing reliance on cars and improving air quality.

“I’m delighted these latest improvements are now under way at some of our important our routes and paths, and I’m looking forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on our communities.”

The rolling programme of works is taking place between now and March 2025, with the winter months chosen for this phase of improvements so vegetation clearance will not affect nest birds.

Notes to editors

• Launched in 2022, the UK Shared Prosperity Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK, investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills.
• The investment in improving routes and paths in Warrington supports the council’s Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP), which aims to make walking and cycling the first choice for everyday journeys in the borough.