Travel blow Cycle plans ‘under review’ after funding setback
PROJECTS drawn up to boost walking and cycling have been put ‘under review’ after Gloucestershire County Council received just a fraction of the £10million it bid for.
The authority said it would have been “surprised” to receive the full amount it wanted to help cyclists, pedestrians and public transport during the Covid-19 pandemic, but was handed £864,750 from the Government instead.
The projects, which included a sixmile cycle path linking Cheltenham and Gloucester, and an upgrade for a cycle lane in Stroud, will now be reviewed by civic chiefs to see what the money can go towards.
The council said it decided to submit an “ambitious” bid for projects after receiving more money than expected in a previous round of funding, and added that the Department for Transport had not told officials why they had received less money.
At its peak, cycling in Gloucestershire increased by 190 per cent during the first lockdown, the authority said.
The first round of Government funding, through the Emergency Active Travel Fund, saw the council awarded £321,773 for busy shopping areas such as Bath Road in Cheltenham, Tewkesbury High Street and Bourton-on-theWater in the Cotswolds.
The money also went on a new cycle route along London Road in Gloucester, where cyclists now have wide and continuous lanes along both sides, and pedestrians have three new zebra crossings.
Councillor
Nigel
Moor, cabinet member for planning and environment, said: “While it is a little disappointing not to get all the money we had bid for, we will put our allocation to best use for the long-term benefit to the county and continue to work hard to secure more funding in the future, to help us deliver our ambitious plans for tackling climate change and improving the health and wellbeing of people across the county.
“Using money awarded earlier this year, we have already delivered several temporary schemes which have helped communities to remain active and safe during this ongoing pandemic.”
Liberal Democrat councillor Iain Dobie (Leckhampton and Warden Hill) said: “This is an appalling indictment of Gloucestershire County Council’s walking and cycling ambitions.
“It was made very clear that painted lines on the road would not be funded, yet the Conservatives did not manage to create a single segregated bike lane with the first pot of money, and we have all been punished because of it.
“To receive so little for the final round shows their own Government doesn’t trust Gloucestershire Conservatives to spend the active travel funding well. This failure has cost all residents dearly, resulting in a £9million black hole for walking and cycling schemes.
“The Conservatives in Shire Hall must admit they messed up and resolve to fund ambitious, fully segregated schemes themselves, because Gloucestershire deserves better than Tory incompetence.”
The projects under review
Re-allocating road space, improvements to existing facilities and signals for a new Gloucester to Cheltenham (B4063) cycle path.
Improving cycle and walking infrastructure on Tewkesbury Road, High Street and Gloucester Road in Cheltenham.
In Gloucester, linking the canal towpath to the city centre and London Road, with widened cycle lanes and footpaths on Southgate Street and other measures to remove barriers to cycling on Llanthony Road.
In Tewkesbury, it was proposed to extend the existing Newtown cycle link further towards Tewkesbury town centre, and connect more of Newtown, Northway and Ashchurch with Tewkesbury C of E Primary School.
The Golden Valley Route (A419) in Stroud was proposed to improve walking and cycling access to the town centre and station from the east, and segregated cycle lanes on Cainscross Road.
Connecting Lydney to Parkend in the Forest of Dean.
Improving crossing facilities in Moreton-in-marsh, as well as supporting the high number of pedestrians near the A44 and access to schools, shops and the local railway station.
While it is a little disappointing not to get all the money… we will put our allocation to best use
Cllr Nigel Moor