TWO projects to encourage cycling and walking in Crewe have been given the go-ahead.

Cheshire East Council are trialling eight 'active travel' schemes to help combat Covid-19, make towns safer by improving access to town centres, areas for employment and schools.

Among the schemes, on which £155,000 is being spent, is improved access for bikes in Crewe town centre and the introduction of a 20mph zone and other traffic calming measures to create a low traffic neighbourhood at Coronation Street near Sir William Stanier School.

The move followed recent submissions by town and parish councils and local members of more than 500 local ideas as to what measures may work in their towns and villages.

People are being encouraged to provide feedback on the measures taken.

Three of the initial ideas put forward have been revised, in response to feedback from communities, and a ninth scheme, in Knutsford, has been withdrawn.

Cllr Laura Crane, Cheshire East Council cabinet member for highways and waste, said: "These initial projects are experimental and will be subject to ongoing feedback and discussions with our communities and stakeholders.

"This engagement will enable us to monitor and refine these measures before anything is considered to be made permanent – so we get schemes that are right for each community.

"These are exciting projects and part of steps taken by this council to encourage more people to get active and cycle and walk more. But they have to be right for each specific location."

Other schemes include improved bike access in Congleton town centre, a 20mph zone and dedicated cycle lane in Old Middlewich Road, Sandbach and a restriction for through traffic in Lodge Road, Alsager to create more road space for cyclists and pedestrians.

Further schemes will be developed in later phases, following pledged government funding of up to £619,000.

Cllr Crane added: "We know people's travel behaviour has changed during the lockdown and we are determined to lock in the benefits of more people walking and cycling to make our town centres safer, healthier and more welcoming to shoppers and visitors."