Yesterday, representatives from the Department for Transport joined Minister Richard Holden to tour locations for an insight into Nottingham?s award-winning sustainable transport including the tram, wider public transport network and other transport initiatives, and to hear about the city?s plans for the future, including the redevelopment of the Broad Marsh area which has already benefited from a range of transport improvements.

The visit also gave an opportunity to discuss and lobby for Government funding to support tram systems like Nottingham Express Transit (NET) along the same lines as additional funding that?s been provided for buses. We are immensely proud of our public transport system in Nottingham and welcome any opportunities to keep on improving it.

Read more here

Cycle to Work Day on August 3 is a chance to experience some of the benefits of cycling, including:

• It's so much cheaper than running a car. Once you own one, the running costs for a bike are usually no more than ?100 a year for servicing and parts
• The impact of cycling on your mental health is extremely beneficial too - not only is cycling a nice mindful buffer at the beginning and end of your working day, it's far less stressful than driving can be
• Part of why it's so good for your mental health is cycling is a lot of fun! You're out and about, and you get the satisfaction of pedalling past traffic
• It's brilliant for your health! It's a low-impact way of getting fitter that's much better for your joints than something like running and is accessible to almost everyone - and it's easy to incorporate as part of your day as you pop to the shops or to work.

I'm looking forward to experiencing the benefits of cycling. My co-councillor Jay Hayes and I have in the past organised bike rides around Bestwood Ward to encourage cycling and we intend to do so again in the future. Why don?t you give it a go too? If you know someone at your workplace who cycles in, ask them what routes they use and if they could show you, or take a look at the Nottingham cycle map to see how you could cycle to work on segregated or quieter cycle routes.

The City Council is carrying out a wide range of infrastructure improvements using Government funding so that cycling is even more appealing, by separating cycle lanes from roads wherever possible. Some of the latest work that?s underway is upgrading facilities along Beechdale Road, Hollington Road and Wigman Road to create a safer environment for people walking and cycling.

Using the latest design standards, the proposals include replacing the existing cycle lanes with segregated two-way cycle lanes, as well as improvements to junctions and pedestrian crossing facilities. These improvements will create better connections to the wider cycle network, and provide a safer highway for local residents, businesses and schools.

The work is being funded from the Government?s Transforming Cities Fund.

More here

Users of the Green Rewards app could be in with the chance of winning membership to the National Trust* in the Biodiversity Photo Competition that launched this week.?

Members of the scheme can submit their best photo between now and 31 August. After the competition closes, Green Rewards users can vote for their favourite photo between 1 ? 15 September. The person who submitted the photo with the most votes will win an individual adult membership to the National Trust ? worth ?84!?

How to take part in the competition?

• Sign up for Green Rewards either online or by downloading the app by searching for ?Notts Green Rewards? in your device?s app store.
• Click the ?Submit? button and send us your best nature or wildlife photo.?
• You?ll be able to see photos submitted by Green Rewards members from across Nottinghamshire by clicking on the gallery page on the platform. At the end of the month, we?ll ask you to vote for your favourite photo and one lucky winner will win an annual individual adult National Trust Membership.?

*Terms and conditions apply, please see the information on the Green Rewards app for more information.?