Number of Quiet Lanes in Suffolk reaches 350
Since we launched in 2020, nearly 200 parish councils have engaged with us and there are now more than 350 lanes designated in Suffolk, covering approximately 400 kilometres (248 miles) of country road.
All Quiet Lanes are marked with green signs at either end, which clearly show the hierarchy of right of way for people using the road.
Councillor Alexander Nicoll, Suffolk County Council’s Deputy Cabinet Member for Transport Strategy, said: “This is a wonderful sustainable initiative aimed at opening up more of our countryside for leisure and recreation activities and active travel.
“The lockdowns over the past two years have shown the value of these areas that exist on many of our doorsteps, both for our physical and mental health.
“Now they have been officially designated we hope it will encourage more residents to make use of the countryside around them and explore other ways of travelling other than in the car.”
“Quiet Lanes has been the perfect example of people working together to achieve something significant,” said volunteer Tim Beach of Suffolk Quiet Lanes.
“Without the hard work of the volunteers and the willingness of Parish Councils to work together to link up the lane network and hold public consultation, we wouldn’t have been able to achieve anywhere near the amount of Quiet Lanes that have now been designated across Suffolk, in such a short space of time.”
In a joint statement Cllr James Mallinder, East Suffolk Council’s cabinet member for the environment, and Cllr Norman Brooks, East Suffolk’s cabinet member for transport, said: “This is a fantastic initiative which helps to preserve the character of our country lanes, reduce traffic and speed, and encourage drivers to be more mindful of non-motorist road users, making it safer for those who want to enjoy our beautiful rural lanes by foot or bike.
“Not only does this support an active and healthy way of travelling, but it also helps the environment and provides a better quality of life for the local area.”