Published on: Tuesday, 22 February 2022
Last updated: Tuesday, 22 February 2022
Greater Anglia has welcomed funding for a new secure cycle parking facility at Bury St Edmunds rail station.
The 64-space cycle hub will be installed this Spring thanks to £153K funding from Sustrans in partnership with Suffolk County Council.
It will be located on the north side of the station near to a new accessible entrance and new car parking facilities.
Demand for cycle parking is expected to increase at the station with improvements to the local cycle network, connectivity to local schools and colleges and the West Suffolk Hospital redevelopment.
The new cycle hub will offer a mix of covered open access cycle parking spaces and secure cycle storage in double-tier bike racks. Improved lighting and CCTV will also be installed.
Simone Bailey, Greater Anglia director of asset management, said: “We’re pleased to have received this funding from Sustrans, Suffolk County Council and the Department for Transport to improve cycle parking facilities at Bury St Edmunds station.
“We hope that investment in integrated transport facilities like this will encourage more eco-friendly journeys and help people lead healthier lifestyles.”
Councillor Alexander Nicoll, deputy cabinet member for Transport Strategy at Suffolk County Council, said: “This joint funding of cycle parking with Sustrans and Greater Anglia at Bury St Edmunds station will provide a significant uplift in secure and covered cycle parking for people.
“This is necessary if we are to encourage and enable people to use low carbon modes of transport for their travel and it helps to fulfil Suffolk County Council’s commitment to tackling climate change.
“Suffolk County Council will continue to work with partners to improve facilities for cycling across the county. This is important to improve connectivity and give people wider transport choice.”
A spokesperson for Sustrans said, ““Combining cycling and rail is a great way to make travel healthier and more sustainable – the train is quick and efficient over longer distances and cycling makes it easy to get between the station and your home, workplace, college etc. Sustrans is really pleased to be managing the Cycle Rail Programme on behalf of the Department for Transport and looks forward to seeing the new facility at Bury St Edmunds welcoming users when complete.”
The award is part of a £3 million package of funding from Active Travel England – the government’s new cycling and walking executive agency - aimed at improving cycling infrastructure around train stations across the country.
Cambridge station’s CyclePoint is also set to benefit from over £500K funding for improvements to security, signage and accessibility.