Cheshire East Council's cycling and walking champion sought assurances that the borough would not "buckle" and take out the active travel measures introduced before they were given a chance to become "effective".

The Congleton active travel trial scheme is part of eight across the borough as a first phase to improve walking and cycling and improve access to town centres, areas for employment and schools.

In Congleton it will involve a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order (TTRO) being put in place to allow cycling on Bridge Street from its junction with High Street through to Mill Street and along Little Street to its junction with Wagg Street.

The council says it will provide an east-west link which is currently severed for cyclists and will help to improve access and connectivity to the town centre.

These measures are being taken forward on an "experimental basis" with the council urging residents to give feedback.

Speaking at Cheshire East Council's cabinet meeting yesterday (Tuesday), Congleton ward councillor Suzie Akers Smith, said: "The active travel emergency measures are being implemented as we speak and further funding to support cycling and walking is to come forward if our measures that Cheshire East implement are bold enough.

"The car, van and lorry driving lobby have a strong voice and they don't seem to want change, but change needs to happen. Whatever changes we made were never going to be easy and having the political will is one thing, but having the political gumption is another and climate change is important."

Cllr Akers Smith, the cycling and walking champion for the borough, asked what assurances could be provided that Cheshire East wouldn't "buckle" and take out the measures introduced "before there has been time" to see if they are "effective in helping people walk and cycle more".

Sam Corcoran, leader of Cheshire East Council, responded: "I am passionate about addressing climate change and I have said it needs to be a green thread running through everything we do at this council.

"However, there does have to be balance and we do need to respond to legitimate concerns. We have consulted about the active travel schemes and of the nine schemes put forward, three were amended and one was halted, as a result of those consultation responses.

"So we are listening to what people say, but I would encourage residents to respond constructively to what is being done with the active travel schemes and suggest others, we do hope there will be further government funding coming to implement further schemes."

The council hopes the measures will also help to reserve capacity on public transport for those who really need it and should help to reduce congestion on some routes to schools.

Further schemes will be developed in later phases, following pledged government funding of up to £619,000 across the borough. West Street and Mill Street has been earmarked as one of the potential schemes for the second phase in autumn.

You can view details of the active travel measures in place and give feedback here.