Medway Council has secured government money to upgrade walking and cycling routes.

The funding, which totals £586,203, will be put towards designing and building new infrastructure, as well as community engagement initiatives.

The council says the projects will make streets safer and more accessible for pedestrians and cyclists, in a bid to improve people’s health and cut carbon emissions.

The funding is part of a national package of £291 million from the government agency Active Travel England (ATE) for the 2025/26 period.

In recent years the council has delivered several schemes to boost walking and cycling across Medway.

Improvements include new cycle parking in Chatham town centre, cycle lane segregation measures in Dock Road in Chatham, and shared path widening on A228 Four Elms Hill.

The council’s projects have been funded by ATE grants totalling more than £1.82 million since 2020.

The latest cash boost comes just weeks before councillors approve a new plan to improve Medway’s walking and cycling network over the next ten years.

Medway Council’s local cycling and walking infrastructure plan (LCWIP) recommends a range of measures for key routes, including 20mph zones and raised crossings.

The plan underwent a six-week public consultation early last year.

Cllr Simon Curry, portfolio holder for climate change and strategic regeneration, said: “Active travel helps to reduce congestion, combat climate change and improve health, and we are committed to encouraging the use of active travel whenever possible in Medway.

“The funding announcement from Active Travel England is most welcome – we have already undertaken good work in this area with previous funding, including creating new cycle lanes, installing new cycle racks, widening 11 miles of public footpaths as well as creating a safer environment outside some of Medway’s schools with our School Streets programme.

“We hope to use this funding to build on this work, and to support some of the concepts in our Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan, which will be going to Cabinet for approval later next month.”

The new LCWIP will be considered by the council’s Cabinet on Tuesday, 11 March.