JUST one in eight Bromsgrove workers currently walk to work, new figures suggest, as the Government pushes commuters away from public transport.

As the lockdown is gradually lifted and people head back to work, the Government has announced emergency funding and measures to make the roads more cyclist and pedestrian-friendly, including plans for pop-up cycle lanes and distributing bike repair vouchers.

But new Office for National Statistics figures show that just 12% of people in Bromsgrove walked to work in the three months to December, according to a survey of employment circumstances across the UK.

The vast majority of people in Bromsgrove travelled to work by car or van – 74% of those surveyed.

Transport secretary Grant Shapps has announced a £250 million emergency package for England to boost cycling and walking, warning that public transport will only be able to cope with 10% of usual numbers if passengers are to abide by the two metre social distancing rule.

Fast-tracked guidance published by the Department for Transport has told councils they must reallocate road space for significantly increased numbers of cyclists and pedestrians.

In a bid to encourage people to dust off their old bikes, vouchers will be given out for cycle repairs, while plans are under way for greater provision of bike-fixing facilities.

Separate figures from the DfT for 2018 reveal that a third of residents in Bromsgrove go for a stroll less than once per week, while 24% do so less than once a month.

And when it comes to cycling, 86% of residents do not manage to fit in a monthly bike ride.