Pembrokeshire Pedal Power

When it comes to getting on your bike - Pembrokeshire County Council is tops.

The authority has been named the Most Proactive Local Authority in the UK in a prestigious new cycling award scheme launched by Sustrans - the charity which co-ordinates the National Cycle Network.

This month Sustrans celebrates opening 10,000 miles of the National Cycle Network in 10 years.

Councillor Brian Hall, Cabinet Member for Environment and Transportation, said he was delighted at the award.

“We are committed to promoting cycling within the County and believe that the development of traffic free routes is the best way to encourage people to get on their bikes or out walking.”

Matthew Price, National Director Wales for Sustrans said the way Pembrokeshire County Council had embraced the National Cycle Network project had been exemplary with a number of superb routes created across the County.

“Many of the paths have been constructed by trainees employed under the Government’s New Deal scheme, a method of delivery that the Council has played a major part in pioneering,” he said.

“All this has been achieved in a relatively short space of time and could not have been possible without the drive and commitment of many Council members and officers at all level from every Council department.”

At present there are 42 kilometres of traffic free cycle paths in the County and the Council hopes this will rise to almost 50km by the end of the year.

Photograph: On the trail in Pembrokeshire between Amroth and Wiseman’s Bridge.