Mark Whitehead 06 February 2023

Councils invited to bid for share of £200m active travel fund

Councils invited to bid for share of £200m active travel fund  image
Image: Michaelpuche / Shutterstock.com.

The Department for Transport has launched a £200m fund to boost walking and cycling, but council chiefs have criticised the use of competitive bids to distribute funding as ‘costly’.

Councils in England will be able to apply for grants to make improvements including more paths, safer routes for children to walk to school and better safety at junctions.

Funding will also be available for schemes to support people in wheelchairs and mobility scooters.

Councils are being invited to consult residents and businesses to develop projects and the successful bids will be announced later this year.

The project is being managed for the Government’s executive agency Active Travel England.

Transport secretary Mark Harper said it would help reduce emissions, boost local economies and create jobs.

‘These new schemes will make it safer for children to walk to school and will better connect rural communities, helping more people choose active travel as an affordable and healthy way to get around.’

Active travel commissioner Chris Boardman said: ‘Sometimes it only takes relatively small changes, such as crossings on school routes or convenient places to park a bike, to give us the option to walk, wheel or ride.

‘Our job is to help local authorities across the country ensure that everyone has more attractive options for their daily trips and we are excited to help them deliver those options.’

Cllr David Renard, Local Government Association (LGA) Transport spokesperson, said: ‘It’s helpful that the Government recognises capacity constraints that councils face and this funding will support them with efforts to get more people out of their cars and using greener forms of transport.

‘However, funding must be delivered to where it is needed the most, not based on costly competitive bids between areas.’

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Family Support Worker

Durham County Council
Grade 6 - £27,269 - £30,060 (Pay award pending)
Do you have a real passion for helping families to make positive changes for themselves and their children? This might be the right role for you!   WH Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Clerical Officer Receptionist

Durham County Council
Grade 3 £24,404 - £25,183 Pro Rata to hours worked Pay award pending
WHAT IS INVOLVED? We are looking to appoint a part time Clerical officer/Receptionist within Business Services to provide a professional, effective a Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Administration Assistant

Durham County Council
£25,584 - £27,711 pro rata
Administration Assistant Grade 5    £25,584 - £27,711 pro rata Temporary – required from 1st October 2025 until 31 December 2025 37 hours per week, Te Consett
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Support Assistant

Durham County Council
£24,027 pro rata
Support Assistant Grade 1 £24,027 pro rata Temporary – required from 1st October 2025 until 31st October 2026 Part Time, 32.5 hours Mon - Fri 9am -4pm Consett
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Lecturer in Foundation Learning -Maths, English and Digital

Durham County Council
Grade 9 £34,314 - £37,938 pro rata for part-time term time working PAY AWARD PENDING
The DurhamLearn Foundation Learning programme area delivers Digital Skills, English and Maths Functional Skills.   An opportunity has arisen for a Lec Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner