Gloucestershire County Council has announced further details of plans to make it easier to walk and cycle during the COVID-19 restrictions. 

The move comes following government announcements of measures and national investment of £250m to promote sustainable travel.

The council has issued a briefing note to county councillors, asking them to work with their district council colleagues to put forward their top priority schemes.

While some plans can be taken forward quickly, the county council is still waiting for details of the Department for Transport's changes to the Traffic Regulation Order process, which will be necessary for some schemes. It also needs to know how much funding is likely to be allocated to schemes.

The sorts of measures that could be introduced include:

• Installing pop-up cycle facilities
• Using cones and barriers to widen footways, crossings, refuges and bus stops
• Reducing speed limits
• Additional cycle parking at key locations
• Fast-tracking already planned schemes eg local cycling and walking investment plans that can be constructed quickly

Schemes will need to meet the following criteria:

• Support strong social distancing
• Promote sustainable transport and travel
• Improve air quality
• Assist in economic recovery
• Are necessary and practical

The county council is keen to involve Gloucestershire's district councils (working with their county councillors) in planning. It is seeking district councils' top three ideas on what might be needed in different areas of the county, including the best locations.

Cllr Nigel Moor, cabinet member for environment and planning, said: "We invested over £4.7m into cycling and walking last year. If we can do even more this year, that would be great. There are some strategic schemes such as cycle routes linking Gloucester and Cheltenham, and Cheltenham and Bishops Cleeve, that we've been pursuing for some time, but I'd also like to see if we can do more in our towns and cities too. I really want to hear the views of district council colleagues. We're also looking forward to the new guidance from the Department for Transport, which, once issued, will help us really take this forward."

The council has promised more detail as the project progresses.