A SHROPSHIRE border town has been included in a new network of active travel.

Llanfyllin is one of 11 designated active travel localities across Powys which have now been officially approved by the Welsh Government.

The maps Active Travel Network Maps (ATNM) show current active travel routes and details of possible future routes and can be viewed on the Welsh Government website.

Powys County Council (PCC) has long been committed to improving facilities for Powys residents wishing to make short journeys on foot or by bike, and have been working with communities across the county to find potential active travel routes.

The Welsh Government has identified 11 key areas in Powys where projects have either begun, will begin in the future or there are hopes for introducing new travel routes – these areas are in and around Welshpool, Newtown, Llandrindod Wells, Brecon, Builth Wells, Llanidloes, Machynlleth, Knighton, Presteigne, Crickhowell and Llanfyllin.

“The Active Travel (Wales) Act 2013 aims to make Wales a walking and cycling nation,” explains Councillor Jackie Charlton, PCC cabinet member for a Greener Powys.

“Essentially, this means that we are endeavouring to make it possible for us to all make short journeys such as our commute to work, school or local shops, by physically active means, like walking or cycling.

“Not only does active travel have huge health and wellbeing advantages to us all, but by prioritising walking and cycling, rather than using the car, for short, local journeys we are also helping combat the current climate emergency. Less reliance on our cars will go a long way in helping us achieve our ambition to reduce carbon emissions to net zero by 2030.

“The Welsh Government have made it clear that walking and cycling must be the natural mode of choice for short everyday journeys, or as part of a longer journey in combination with other sustainable modes, and the continued investment into practical active travel routes within Powys will help us achieve this vision.

“Developed with the help of local communities, these newly published ATNM show areas across Powys which could be improved to enable more people to walk or cycle for short journeys. These improvements could be as simple as providing a safe place to leave your bike while you pop to the shops, adding a road crossing to allow pupils to safely walk to school, or widening and improving pavements to make walking to town with the children and a pushchair easer.

“Whether big ideas or small suggestions, we are grateful for everyone's feedback and input into creating these maps, all of which have been vitally important in creating the community's vision of future active travel networks throughout the county.”

The maps can be viewed on the Welsh Government hosted DataMapWales site by clicking on the following link, https://datamap.gov.wales/maps/active-travel-network-maps.