£475,000 extra funding for walking and cycling
Royal Borough: Second tranche of active travel funds from Government arrives
The Royal Borough has received £475,500 in Government funding to support active travel measures – but the figure has come as a surprise to some who were expecting more.
The cash, which is flowing from an Active Travel Fund, is the second ‘tranche’ of funding the council has received to improve its cycling and walking infrastructure.
Earlier this summer, as the country emerged from lockdown, local authorities were given money to promote active travel measures and support social distancing as people returned to the high street.
The council installed bollards along town centre roads to enable more room for pedestrians and cyclists.
It also introduced 20mph zones and reconfigured bus stops and loading times in different areas of the borough.
In the latest round of funding – called ‘tranche two’ – announced on November 13, the Government said that temporary barriers installed by councils ‘could prevent pedestrians from crossing the road, cause congestion for buses and motor traffic, and impede access for kerbside businesses’.
Cllr Gerry Clark (Con, Bisham and Cookham), the Royal Borough’s lead member for transport, said in August that the borough was ‘working at speed’ and would ‘reconfigure and revise’ issues as they arise.
The new money, the Government says, will fund more permanent measures including ‘school streets’, where roads around schools are closed to motorists at school times; low-traffic neighbourhoods; segregated cycle lanes, and pedestrian improvements.
As part of Transport Secretary Grant Shapps’ plan to ensure councils ‘develop schemes that work for their communities’, he has set out they must show evidence of ‘appropriate consultation’, among other requirements.
Independent cycling group – the Windsor & Maidenhead Cycling Action Group – has responded to the Royal Borough’s funding, saying it will be working with the council as it seeks ‘clarification’ over the amount of funding received.
Founding member Susy Shearer said: “Having had important opportunities to work closely with the Royal Borough, we are aware of the complex efforts which officers and others made in putting together the council’s formal bid submission.
“Whilst the Government’s announcement differs from earlier projections, as stakeholders we firmly support the council as it seeks vital clarification in this matter, and in its work going forward to achieve cycling and walking interventions.”
Elsewhere in the area, Slough has received £757,577 and Buckinghamshire – a larger unitary authority – £2,261,943.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “We can see the public’s strong appetite for more active travel, and this funding will help ensure the right infrastructure is in place to build truly active neighbourhoods.”