Sir Chris Whitty joins Active Travel England’s advisory panel

England’s Chief Medical Officer Sir Chris Whitty, who saw the country through the worst of the pandemic, has joined Active Travel England’s (ATE) advisory panel, alongside other senior figures.

The government’s cycling, walking and wheeling body was formed this January to improve standards for active travel infrastructure, manage budgets and award funding to new projects.

Other figures joining the panel include West Midlands’ Mayor, Andy Street, Chair of the Office of Rail and Road, Declan Collier, and design firm Arup’s Global Transport Leader, Isabel Dedring.

Sir Chris Whitty acts as the UK government’s chief medical adviser and works with the Chief Medical Officer’s of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to publish guidelines for exercise to improve health.

He said: ‘Exercise improves health and Active Travel England’s mission is shared by the health service. We all want to see more people incorporating active travel into their day as a way to keep mentally and physically fit.’

The advisory panel will meet every quarter to discuss priorities and new strategies for ATE, with the first meeting to take place this late October.

Mayor Andy Street will use his expertise from his roles as the lead non-executive director for the Department for Communities and Local Government and a member of the Prime Minister’s Business Advisory Group.

Declan Collier has extensive experience in the transport industry, having been the CEO of London City Airport and the Dublin Airports Authority and serving as President of the World Association of Airports.

Isabel Dedring works with cities and governments across the world helping to develop transport infrastructure and policies. Prior to this she was the Deputy Mayor for Transport and Deputy Chair of Transport for London where she managed a £1 billion cycling investment programme and helped to drive the transition to zero-emission black cabs and city buses.

Active Travel Minister, Baroness Vere, added: ‘This new advisory panel will be key to supporting the government’s ambition to get more people walking, wheeling and cycling by transforming active travel infrastructure across the country.

‘Better infrastructure will not only improve connections to employment, education and local services but improve our mental and physical wellbeing and help to level up the country. I look forward to working with Sir Chris, Andy, Declan and Isabel to achieve this.’

Air Quality News recently spoke to National Active Travel Commissioner, Chris Boardman MBE, about how local authorities can revolutionise and re-strategise their transport networks. 

Photo by Murillo de Paula