Sustrans has been recognised for an innovative scheme which aims to increase active travel across the Avonmouth and Severnside Enterprise Area.

The company's Severn Ride & Stride project beat six other competitors to claim Best Innovative Sustainable Travel Measure at the Travelwest Travel Awards in Weston-super-Mare last week.

The Travelwest Travel Awards are an annual recognition of achievement in increasing sustainable travel and are open to those businesses and organisations working and operating in the Travelwest area.

The Severn project, which has been running since March 2019, is part of Sustran's mission to deliver packages of activities and interventions to motivate, empower and support people to use the walking and cycling infrastructure already in place, and currently being developed, across the area. It is also helping encourage the use of bus, rail and car-sharing as an alternative to single passenger car journeys.

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James Cleeton, Sustrans Director England South, said: "It is still early days in the project, so it is fantastic that our efforts and impact has already been recognised.

"Enabling active travel into and within this substantial employment centre is essential to improve access to work for many people living in the local area as well as to tackle congestion, climate change and air quality issues."

Kate Royston, Director for SevernNet added: "We have welcomed this opportunity to work more intensely with the businesses across the area, providing practical support and advice for employers and employees.

"This is enabling long-lasting changes to the way people are able to access work. With limited public transport options, walking and cycling combined, where needed, with bus and train can provide a real alternative to get to work, as well as providing health and well-being benefits."

(CM/JG)