New Sustrans project to transform Kings Heath

Kings Heath is to be part of a Sustrans led project, 'Active School Neighbourhoods', for which they have secured an extra £3,615,000 funding through the Big Lottery Fund. To launch this project there was a meeting at All Saints centre on Monday for tea, biscuits and a chat.  This is a national programme that will focus on engaging local communities in the redesign of areas around schools & elsewhere with a view to making them safer and more attractive for walking & cycling.

Joe Green from Sustrans says, "Largely due to the efforts and success of the Car Culture project, we have been able to put forward Kings Heath for inclusion in the pilot of this programme (along with two areas in London & Newcastle). Birmingham City Council have agreed to provide match funding towards any capital works resulting from this."

The presentations, by Joe and two other Sustrans colleagues - Finlay McNab and Paola Spivach, highlighted the achievements of our Car Culture project, and an explanation of the origins of Sustrans innovative DIY Streets initiative and how it has already transformed streets across the UK (see more references at bottoom of blog).

It's a fantastic opportunity for Kings Heath - we'll keep you posted as the project develops.

Useful links:

• http://www.sustrans.org.uk/news/sustrans-receives-extra-%C2%A33615000-big-lottery-funding-travel-actively-programme
• http://www.localtrust.org.uk/big-local/environment/environment-case-studies/sustrans-do-it-yourself-streets/
• http://www.sustrans.org.uk/sites/default/files/images/files/migrated-pdfs/A%20simple%20guide.pdf
• http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/green-living-blog/2009/nov/25/diy-streets-clapton-sustrans
• http://www.sustrans.org.uk/our-services/what-we-do/getting-young-people-active