A strategy to invest in ‘green infrastructure’ in Camborne, Pool, Illogan and Redruth (CPIR) has now been endorsed by Cornwall Council.

Earlier this year the council asked people in the area for their views on what is known as the Green Infrastructure Strategy for the CPIR area.

The strategy aims to support and invest in infrastructure that promotes reduced car use and increased activity levels among residents, in turn helping to promote a sense of community and connect people more with nature.

The strategy will be used to guide decisions around the delivery of future green infrastructure projects, including any delivered as part of new development.

‘Green infrastructure’ is the name given to a network of green spaces and the links between them within towns, villages and the countryside, with the aim of helping people to move around without the need to use a car.

The links connect where people live to other parts of an urban area and then to the countryside and coast.

The strategy for the CPIR area identifies what links are already in existence, sets out how these could be improved and looks at where new links are needed to help create a wider interlocking network.

The areas looked at include cycle routes, urban green spaces, parks and play areas, sports and leisure facilities, youth provision, allotments and community gardens, churchyards and natural green spaces.

Olly Monk, the council’s portfolio holder for housing and planning, said: “The strategy gives us the opportunity as a planning authority to make sure that any green infrastructure being delivered reflects the ambitions of local residents, and that contributions towards green infrastructure from developers are spent on the projects that are most important locally.”

The strategy sets out the priorities for green infrastructure in the CPIR area over the next nine years.

Developed through a series of working group meetings, which involved stakeholders from across the area, it identifies projects that offer most value to communities, so that when funding is available it can be made best use of.

Barbara Ellenbroek, local member for Redruth South, portfolio Holder for Children and Families and a member of the GI working group, said: “Travelling from one side of our area to the other, or out to the countryside or coast without using a car, is currently difficult.

“The primary focus of this strategy is to provide better and safer walking and cycling routes to the coast at Portreath and Gwithian, to Tehidy Country Park and across the urban area.

“We hope that these new and improved travel routes will provide a real alternative and encourage people to leave their car behind and travel by foot or bicycle.

“We also want to make sure that we have a wide range of green infrastructure to appeal across the age groups to encourage people to make use of their nearby green spaces and connect with nature.

“We hope that the strategy will increase the attractiveness of our town centres which in turn may boost economic growth.”