IF you travel to work by foot or bicycle, the Vale council wants to know how it can improve your daily commute.

As part of the Welsh Government's Active Travel Plan, a consultation has started which seeks the views of Vale residents on how they travel, how they would like to travel and what would make their experiences better.

The Active Travel (Wales) Act 2013 places a requirement on all local authorities in Wales to map out and develop suitable routes for cycling and walking to improve the general health of the nation, bring about a reduction in carbon emissions and create a cleaner environment in our towns and cities. By 2020, the Welsh Government hopes that 10 per cent of all short journeys will be made by bicycle.

The Welsh Government has identified Barry, Penarth, Dinas Powys, Llandough and Rhoose among the areas where they would like to see active travel routes clearly identified, developed and promoted for the benefit of residents.

The first stage of the act requires the council to produce maps of existing routes and for these to be submitted to the Welsh Government by January 22, 2016. The maps will show existing routes that the council consider suitable for Active Travel.

Councillor Lis Burnett, Cabinet Member for Regeneration said: ““I support wholeheartedly the sentiment and aspirations behind the Active Travel Plan.

“The consultation presents an excellent opportunity for the public to play their part in shaping and developing exciting Active Travel routes across the local authority area and, who knows, even revealing routes that, may not hitherto, have been widely known.

“We’ll be asking residents to tell us how they travel, how they’d like to travel, what would make their experiences better.

“Beyond the obvious health and environmental benefits, the promotion and development of walking and cycling routes in the Vale of Glamorgan could benefit tourism in the region and subsequently provide a boost for the local economy. I would encourage everyone to have their say.”

The consultation exercise will run until December 18, 2015 and respondents can take part online at www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/activetravel, or by completing a paper questionnaire available from libraries and Council offices.