MILLIONS of pounds is to be invested in cycling and walking schemes across Sussex in a bid to improve access to work, education and training.

Brighton and Hove City Council and East and West Sussex county councils have all successfully bid for funding from the Department for Transport.

Brighton and Hove has been awarded just under £1.5 million and East Sussex £1.2 million over the next three years.

West Sussex will get a share of just under £7.5 million being granted to other authorities around the country.

The cycling charity Sustrans has welcomed the investment, saying it will help more people cycle and walk to work.

Sustrans southern director James Cleeton said: “It is a clear sign local government recognises the benefits of cycling and walking to help create healthier, cleaner places in which to live and work.

“We look forward to working in partnership with Brighton and Hove City Council as part of our work across the country to create a step-change in numbers of people cycling and walking to work and by putting in place solutions that will improve lives, transform places and connect communities.”

One of the projects planned for Brighton and Hove is personalised travel planning.

This involves travel advisors making contact with individuals that may find the costs of travelling to work, education and training prohibitive and offering advice and support on sustainable travel options.

It is anticipated around 10,000 people a year will be reached by the scheme, working with residents, businesses and schools.

It will also help promote the forthcoming Brighton Bike Share project, launching later this year, adding a projected 10 per cent more users.

Chairwoman of the council’s environment, transport and sustainability committee Gill Mitchell said: “This funding recognises the council’s commitment to helping families, workers, students and visitors to choose travel options other than the car.

“This in turn reduces congestion, improves bus journey times and brings health benefits along with cleaner air for everyone in Brighton and Hove.

“The project will help people to access work and training, which will contribute to the local economy, and make Brighton and Hove a successful and prosperous city as we move into the 2020s.”

In East Sussex the money will be focused on schemes in the Newhaven, Eastbourne and south Wealden and Bexhill and Hastings areas as part of moves to help boost the local economy.

Projects including journey planning tools and the launch of new cycle hubs offering bike training and maintenance.

Transport Minister Andrew Jones said: “We are committed to improving how people travel.”

PROJECTS TO IMPROVE OUR HEALTH AND CUT EMISSIONS

A WIDE range of projects are being drawn up by councils to make the most of the extra funding they have been given for cycling and walking projects.

Brighton and Hove City Council is using its almost £1.5 million Government cash for a three-year programme to encourage people to use healthier and more eco-friendly transport.

The idea is to promote travel that improves air quality, reduces congestion and improves physical and mental health.

One of the projects is personalised travel planning, whereby advisors will help those who find the costs of travelling to work, school, college or university or training prohibitive.

Advisers are also able to direct individuals to other support services as required, by working closely with other agencies.

The forthcoming Brighton Bike Share project, due to be launched later this year, will also be promoted in a bid to boost the number of those using it.

With more than £1 billion of investment expected along the seafront in the coming years, with further developments taking place across the city, the project will work with residents, employees, students and visitors to access new employment and leisure opportunities in active and healthy ways.

By supporting people to choose alternatives to the car the project will reduce carbon emissions and encourage more active travel through walking and cycling.

The city’s acting director of public health Peter Wilkinson said: “This award is great news for the health and wellbeing of our residents.

“As well as supporting access to employment and education, it will help Brighton and Hove to be a more active city.

“Promoting walking and cycling as an easy option will have benefits not only for physical health, but also for mental health and wellbeing.”

Over the three years, the council’s travel team will be giving people the opportunity to have their own personal travel plans, helping businesses, schools and universities with travel planning for work and study, offering those on low incomes the opportunity to build and keep a bike and offering adult cycling and bike maintenance training.

In East Sussex the money will be focused on schemes in the Newhaven, Eastbourne and south Wealden and Bexhill and Hastings areas as part of moves to help boost the economy.

Projects include journey planning tools and the launch of new cycle hubs offering bike training, maintenance and sustainable travel information.

The money will also support the continuation of the successful Wheels 2 Work scheme, which allows people to rent motorbikes and scooters to get to work, and allow the launch of a similar scheme called Pedal Power, offering cycle or electric cycle loans.

Money will be made available for walking and cycling challenges and for a scheme offering grants of up to £1,500 to community groups for schemes promoting cycling and walking.

East Sussex county councillor for transport and environment Carl Maynard said: “The funding will enable us to continue to work with our partners to drive forward economic growth improve access to new and existing jobs, training and education on foot or on two wheels. These schemes also allow us to reduce carbon emissions and help improve health and wellbeing.”

BENEFITS OF BEING ACTIVE

GETTING out walking or cycling burns calories, gets your heart pumping and works your legs and abs.

It can also lift your mood, put a smile on your face and improve your general health and wellbeing.

Being inactive is a serious threat to our collective health – research shows lack of physical activity could cause more than 36,000 premature deaths in England each year.

It is recommended adults take part in two-and-a-half hours of moderate activity per week.

One way to achieve this target is to do 30 minutes’ exercise at least five times a week – the perfect length of time for short, local journeys on foot or by bike.

By swapping short car journeys with cycling or walking, you can easily build exercise into your day and reap the health benefits.

Research shows adults who cycle regularly have fitness levels of someone up to ten 10 years younger.

Cycling raises your metabolic rate, which can help to keep weight off, with a moderate bike ride burning up to 500 calories an hour.

Physical activity isn’t a guarantee against all disease, but it has been shown to greatly reduce the chances of several serious illnesses including heart disease, asthma, diabetes and cancer.

Cancer Research UK says keeping active could help to prevent more than 3,000 annual cases of cancer.

Other areas of your health and wellbeing will benefit from increasing your activity too.

The British Chiropractic Association has specifically identified shorter car journeys as placing the back under immense strain.

Driving to a desk job means prolonged hours of physical inactivity negatively affecting posture and circulation.

Studies have shown physical activity can be used to overcome, and even prevent, depression and anxiety.

According to the Mental Health Foundation, physical activity can be as effective as medication and counselling.