Sustrans - Links to Schools Programme

The Sustrans Projects are being funded through the Cycle England Links to Schools Programme and Havant Borough Council / Hampshire County Council developer contribution policy.

The Borough has been successful in obtaining funding for the following projects.

Within the submission process, all the projects had to prove that the proposed link to school would potentially improve cycle use for pupils at a particular school(s) and gain support from the school(s) involved in the submission. It was also necessary to demonstrate that the community and local councillors would support the project; and for each of the successful projects the schools, Community Boards and Councillors have given their full support.

The Borough Council, along with its partner Hampshire County Council, is fully committed in constructing cyclepaths including safe links to schools. Hampshire County Council actively encourages schools to implement Travel Plans through their Safe Routes to School Team. Havant Borough Council’s Planning Team, Sustainable Transport Officer and our recently appointed Climate Change and Sustainability Adviser, advise developers and businesses on their Travel Plans, and much information can therefore be found on this website.

The Borough Council has had a Cycle Strategy since 1997 which is now being updated to a Sustainable Transport Strategy and will be available to the public in 2011. This will include not only safe links to schools but will also include commuter and leisure routes that link into the National Cycle Network.

Within the proposed network there will be links to Havant Railway Station where there is storage space for 128 bicycles for commuters using the railway and for use for cyclists working in Havant town centre. The proposed network also links to Havant Leisure Centre. In Waterlooville town centre there is cycle parking for 60 bicycles for commuters and workers using the town centre.

The Borough Council has produced a cycle map that is available to the public, as part of the Solent Cycle Map Project. It is intended to update the map every two years and the current map is available in the Civic Offices at local bike shops, schools, colleges, and on this web site.

The proposal also links into the Healthy School Standards encouraging Healthier Life Style and falls under the standard for ECO Schools.

The Borough Council also supports several initiatives including Get Active, Walking the Way to Health, Exercise Referral scheme, MEND Programme, Street Sport, Smoke Free Havant, Local Public Service Agreement Level 2 and participates in Bike Week and the Big Green Commuter Challenge (in which the Council won large organisation category 2005, 2007, 2008 and was 2nd in 2009).