CHESHIRE East Council has given the go-ahead for a plan to develop walking and cycling networks in Crewe and other towns.

Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPs) have been developed for Crewe, Congleton, Macclesfield and Wilmslow, setting out ambitious programmes to create high quality walking and cycling networks.

The highways committee's approved the schemes at its recent meeting with Richard Hibbert, the council's head of strategic transport, saying: "There is very strong guidance from the Department for Transport that authorities with adopted LCWIPs are better placed to command funding from the government's active travel fund.

"Since adoption of two LCWIPs, I think our experience is, that has largely been borne out. We've had two successful applications to the active travel fund to a total of about £950,000."

The council chief says the four towns have ben chosen as places where there is the "greatest chance" of increasing cycling and walking.

But he added: "The remainder of the borough is covered by the borough-wide cycling strategy and the current process of preparing transport delivery plans for every part of the borough, so there is no reason to be concerned that cycling is exclusive to the four towns mentioned."

He stressed the vast majority of the programme, at this stage, remains unfunded.

The committee heard from members of the public who were keen for the council to adopt the implementation plan.

Resident Rob Sharp, of Cycle Wilmslow and Transition Wilmslow, said: "It was heartening to have recently co-led with Cllr Suzie Akers Smith, the cycling champion, a ride using the LCWIP to Alderley Park.

"Several of the riders were heard to say that they wouldn't have dared to ride to Alderley Park had it not been for the LCWIP scheme. We now look forward to further consultation in connection with the Nether Alderley section and improved connectivity to Alderley village from the bypass via Brook Lane and Chelford Road."

David Mayers, of Macctastic, the Macclesfield based sustainability group, told the committee: "Many potential cyclists admit to being too frightened of the volume, speed and weight of traffic on our narrow pot-holed roads. Many children, particularly who are pedestrians, find the traffic very intimidating also, so the LCWIP scheme is to be welcomed."

He added: "At the moment, we haven't benefited like Wilmslow, but these schemes that are on your document today will be very welcome.

"Macclesfield needs these better cycle facilities for so many reasons – it's congested, the air quality is very poor, there's a very low level of active travel, so I would call upon you to adopt the implementation plan."

Peter Hall, from Congleton Active Travel, said: "It's my understanding that, if you vote for the LCWIP to be implemented, under the stipulations of the Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Strategy from 2017 Cheshire East will be well placed to make a case for future investment put forward elsewhere."

Alsager councillor Rod Fletcher said he felt the council had missed out on funding for such schemes from planning applications.

"By using planning applications for improvement for walking and cycling, we can actually use developers' money instead of our own. What concerns me is that opportunities have been missed," he said.

Congleton councillor Suzie Akers Smith said: "Never before have we had this opportunity to change our environment and these documents are the first step in enabling more people to get fit walking and cycling."

The committee vote was unanimous.