Spaces for People funding is revealed
The Courier can reveal exactly where West Lothian Council spent the £600,000 pot from the Spaces for People programme.
We sent a Freedom of Information request to the council asking how they spent the money for the Covid-19 social distancing scheme in the county.
It has been revealed that the much-maligned temporary 20mph speed limits on the roads cost £75,000 to install. Creating cycle friendly zones on rural roads with 40mph speed limits cost another £82,900. The highest spend was £ 142,300 creating temporary cycle lanes and other measures like the socially- distanced bus stops cost £ 36,000. Local man, Lorenzo Franchitti, has handed in a petition with 5000 signatures to the council calling on them to abolish the 20mph signs. The council responded saying they will hold a meeting to review the speed signs.
West Lothian Council’s Spaces for People programme was broken down into nine packages of work.
The costs as requested are as follows: Package One: Localised footway widening at pinch points/ parking suspension £ 53,900. Package Two: Loaning Parking and on street parking suspension, £7400. Package Three: Introduction of walker / cycle friendly zones on rural roads (reduced speed limits to 40mph), £ 82,900. Package Four: Advisory/temporary cycle lanes, £ 142,300. Package Five: Introduce temporary 20mph areas within towns and villages, £ 75,000. Package Six: Introduce temporary physical distancing signage £130,000. Package Seven: Strategic clearance works to widen footpaths and cycle tracks, £65,000.
Package Eight: Public Transport - physical distancing measures at bus stops, £36,000. Package Nine: Introduce pedestrian phases at controlled crossing points, £9000.
West Lothian Council received £ 641,500 from the £ 40 million pot for the Spaces for People programme that the Scottish Government ran in conjunction with Sustrans. The council successfully sought funding for nine packages of projects and initiatives following online engagement with the public. The scheme was designed to encourage greater rates of walking and cycling in the future.