South Yorkshire: Applicants sought to promote cycling and walking

Announcing her departure, Dame Sarah said It had been "a great privilege", but it was time to hand over the reins

Applications are being sought to find a replacement for Dame Sarah Storey as the active travel commissioner for South Yorkshire.

Britain's most successful Paralympian announced her departure in March, after three years working to improve the county's walking and cycle networks.

South Yorkshire's mayor Oliver Coppard said the area had already taken "giant steps" forward.

The successful candidate would help continue the work, he added.

Dame Sarah was appointed as South Yorkshire's first active travel commissioner in 2019, and worked closely with the mayor at the time, Dan Jarvis, to secure government funding for active travel projects.

Together, they created the Active Travel Implementation Plan, which detailed how cycle routes, safe crossings and low traffic neighbourhoods would help to transform the region by 2040.

When she announced her departure, Dame Sarah said It had been "a great privilege", but it was now time to hand over the reins to the next mayoral team "to build for the future".

Oliver Coppard said the successful applicant would be central to his vision for the region

Mr Coppard said the successful applicant would be "central to my vision of a better connected, healthier and more sustainable South Yorkshire".

"We are recruiting an active travel commissioner to ensure that walking and cycling routes are prioritised when making decisions about planning and design of new projects," he added.

Requirements of the role include offering advice on best practice and opportunities for enhancing and improving active travel and to be an advocate for walking, running and cycling as a way of improving health and wellbeing,

The closing date for applications is 5 September.