We were delighted to have been commissioned by Shropshire Council to develop a Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) for seven market towns across the County.
City Science Approach
LCWIP
Our multi-stage approach included a desktop data review, on-the-ground route auditing and stakeholder engagement. We used our in-house geospatial analysis tool Cadence 360, to map infrastructure, demand and generate proposed routes. Stakeholder feedback was also obtained throughout the process and fed into the route development to reflect local priorities and challenges. It involved seven tailored local workshops, in-person walking and cycling audits, 1-1 meetings and prioritisation workshops.
We reviewed local, regional & national policy to ensure our work was relevant to the wider context, using national guidelines such as the DfT’s Walking Route Audit Tool. This also ensures that the proposed network reflects national priorities and is therefore suitable for leveraging funding for the delivery stage.
The final stage was the appraisal of all routes against a set of strategic objectives. This allowed us to account for the wider policy context and deliverability, we were able to produce an ambitious yet realistic. Scheme prioritisation involved development of a tailored and automated MCAF which we applied to assess the 600 schemes according to metrics derived from Shropshire-specific and LCWIP objectives. We produced a strategic document to provide an overarching narrative and support the seven local plans.
Public Consultation
As a follow on from the development of the LCWIP, we delivered a public consultation, covering all seven market towns across the county. The consultation consisted of:
- Online Activities: We worked with the Council to develop a dedicated set of webpages for the consultation, hosted on the Council’s website. We provided text which made the purpose of the consultation clear, used plain and concise language, and worked with the Council’s accessibility team to ensure that all content met stringent accessibility guidelines. We used an online, interactive mapping software (Storymaps) to provide an engaging alternative to static maps for consultees, and developed an online survey to ensure maximum reach for the consultation and to allow people who were unable to travel to in-person events to be a part of the process and share their views.
- In-Person Activities: We ran a roadshow over the course of a week, travelling to all seven towns covered in the LCWIP. We made printed materials, including maps and copies of the survey available for people who were unable to use a computer to take part. The in-person activities provided a chance for the team to speak to individuals and members of the community who had not shared their inputs so far in the LCWIP process, and gain a better understanding of local priorities and context for each of the towns.
- Schools Consultation: In order to ensure that the views of children and young people were heard, we arranged a separate schools consultation, providing a lesson plan for secondary schools with videos and games to get young people interested in the process. We provided assembly materials for primary schools, and shared an online survey which also captured the views of parents of primary school children, which was a demographic we struggled to reach during other parts of the consultation.
Client Testimonial: “Shropshire Council have had the pleasure of working with the City Science team to develop our LCWIP. Their stakeholder engagement approach was thorough, and they went the extra mile to accommodate and accurately reflect stakeholder feedback.” Rose Dovey (Active Travel Manger, Shropshire Council)