TRANSPORT bosses have vowed to use the 2012 Olympic cycling event at Hadleigh as a springboard to promote cycling in Essex.

Essex County Council, working in partnership with Active Essex, invited partner organisations to the Cycle Essex Summit today.

Delegates at the summit, held at Colchester United Football Club, pledged to develop a cycling strategy to promote riding in the county.

Ray Gooding, councillor responsible for sport and physical activity, said: “Essex has a fantastic enthusiasm for cycling, fostered by the Olympic Mountain Biking at Hadleigh in 2012 and last year’s stage three of the Tour de France.

“We want to build on the successes of these events and use them as a springboard for promoting cycling in Essex both as a sport and recreational activity, as well as a sustainable form of transport.

“The Government has made a commitment to making funding available for cycling through the Infrastructure Act and is expected to publish a national cycling strategy shortly.

“We have already made a submission of interest; however it is crucial that we now produce a more detailed cycling strategy of our own so that we are in a prime position to take full advantage of any future funding opportunities.”

Groups represented at the meeting included the British Cycling Federation, Sport England, Essex Police, c2c, Greater Anglia and the Department for Transport.

Essex County Council is asking people to complete a survey as part of the consultation process for the new cycling strategy. Click here to take part.