| The consultation is open for six weeks from Wednesday 19 November 2025 to Wednesday 31 December 2025. |
| We’re building a long-term strategy for a safer, green, and cleaner Central Bedfordshire – and we need your input.
Whether you’re a child, young adult, parent, or resident, your voice matters.
What’s this about?
We want more children and young people to walk, cycle, scoot or use public transport. To do that, we need to understand what’s getting in the way and what we can do to remove those barriers.
Have your say
Consultation runs from Wednesday 19 November 2025 to Wednesday 19 December 2025.
Take part in two easy ways:
Why your input matters
Sustainable travel helps everyone. It means:
- Healthier, more active lifestyles for children
- Safer streets with less traffic and fewer accidents
- Cleaner air around schools and neighbourhoods
- Stronger communities through more independence and social interaction.
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| What we’re proposing
We’ve drafted a strategy with practical actions for the council, schools, parents, and pupils, including:
- Walking initiatives including Park and Stride, Walking Buses, and national awareness campaigns like Walk to School Week.
- Cycling and scooter support: training: training, secure parking, and safer routes can all encourage more cycling and wheeling to and from school.
- School Streets: restricting traffic during drop-off and pick-up times.
Our aim is to enable every child who can, to walk, wheel, cycle, or scoot to and from school on safe, unpolluted streets.
Our six objectives are:
- Upgrade the quality of the walking and cycling environment outside schools and the surrounding area.
- Improve safety and reduce traffic and air pollution on the highway network near to the school gate including the piloting and where appropriate, rolling out ‘School Streets’ and/or enforcing ‘School Safety Zones’.
- Support schools to promote walking, wheeling, and cycling to pupils, parents, teachers, and governors.
- Incentivise and facilitate car sharing and the use of shared and public transport services.
- Invest in and support schemes that help children and young people to confidently travel independently.
- Encourage all young people to adopt healthy lifestyle habits.
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| Your voice matters. Share your views to help shape a long-term strategy and vision for a safer, greener and less polluted Central Bedfordshire.
View the draft policy and share your feedback: www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/consultations
Paper copies are also available by request via email at: consultations@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
The consultation is open for six weeks from 20 November 2025 to Wednesday 31 December 2025. |
| Have your say on SMOTS |
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