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

Makaton Tutor - Part Time / Term Time

Essex County Council
£25821.00 - £30377.00 per annum + + Pension
Makaton Tutor - Part Time / Term TimePermanent, Part Time£30,377 per annum, full time equivalent / equal to £15.74 per hour.Location
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Assistant Urban Design Intern

Essex County Council
Up to £25081.00 per annum + + 26 Days Leave & Local Gov Pension
Assistant Urban Design InternFixed Term, Full Time£25,081 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Wellbeing and Independence Practitioner - Safeguarding Team

Essex County Council
£31931.00 - £36423.00 per annum + + 26 Days Leave & Local Gov Pension
Wellbeing and Independence Practitioner - ASC Centralised Safeguarding TeamFixed Term, Full Time£31,931 to £36,423 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Financial Strategy Manager (Revenue)

The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Council
Negotiable
Bring clarity to complex decisions and help shape how we invest in our borough's future.Bring clarity to complex decisions and help shape how we inves England, London
Recuriter: The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Council

Team Manager - Locality

Wakefield Council
£55,979.00, Grade 13
Wakefield Children’s Services have been rated by Ofsted as GOOD with outstanding leadership. Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recuriter: Wakefield Council
Linkedin Banner