County on defensive over active travel bid

A LOCAL authority which has faced criticism for focusing efforts to increase walking and cycling on some of its larger urban areas has underlined its determination to introduce further initiatives.

North Yorkshire County Council’s executive member for access, Councillor Don Mackenzie, said active travel schemes were needed in built-up areas to make a significant impact on issues such as congestion.

Coun Mackenzie was speaking after the transport scrutiny committee heard a senior officer confirm that, despite the Government committing £2bn to active travel schemes, further funding sources would be needed to make inroads into hundreds of proposals put forward by the public, interest groups and county councillors last year.

The council has faced criticism from opposition councillors after its Tory leadership agreed the second tranche of Active Travel Fund schemes should be concentrated on Harrogate, with £500,000 of schemes there and just £250,000 elsewhere in the county.

The local authority’s application for £1.5m from the fund this year would also see the lion’s share focused on urban areas of the county.

It includes a scheme to improve the canal towpath at Silsden and another to cut speeds and encourage active travel in the Clotherholme Road area of Ripon.

A council report on the latter proposal states: “This scheme would have benefits for a number of schools in the area and also provide access to the town centre from residential areas and any future developments in the area.”