Encouraging more environmentally-friendly ways to travel will be at the forefront of a new travel strategy put forward by North Somerset Council.

Next week its executive will agree a draft transport plan which will be put out for public consultation next year.

‘Cycling, walking, bus, rail, and electric and autonomous vehicles’ will be at the heart of it, according to the council.

Key areas have been identified within the joint local transport plan – including improving infrastructure around future housing developments, ‘such as a link to bypass Banwell’.

Extending the North Somerset Coastal Towns Cycle Route to link Brean, Weston, Clevedon, Portishead and Bristol is another highlighted target.

The plan also includes the council’s proposed new public transport hub for Alexandra Parade and continuing to maintain the district’s road network.

The council made the top 10 per cent for A-road qualities in 2017 and it wishes to continue that record.

And ensuring the planned expansion of Bristol Airport does not cause issues is also being investigated.

North Somerset is working with three neighbouring West of England councils, as each authority creates its own plan and the ideas will be combined to ensure joined-up thinking.

Cllr Elfan Ap Rees, North Somerset Council’s executive member for transport, said: “Working with neighbouring authorities has allowed us to look outside our own borders and create an exciting and ambitious plan for North Somerset’s transport infrastructure that will get people moving, tackle congestion and support growth.

“It builds on the significant achievements of the previous plan including spending more than £500million on the delivery of transport projects such as the Greater Bristol Bus Network, the launch of the first three MetroBus routes, completion of Weston transport package improvements, which included increased capacity at junction 21, and opening the South Bristol Link Road.”

The four councils are also in talks with Highways England, Network Rail and other interested parties as part of the project.

North Somerset Council’s executive will meet at 2.30pm on Tuesday, at Weston Town Hall.