Mayor ‘hoarding transport millions’

BATH’S MP has accused the region’s mayor of “hoarding” millions that should be spent on walking and cycling.

Wera Hobhouse claimed Tim Bowles had forked out nothing on active travel infrastructure and he was letting the West of England down.

But the metro mayor said he had spent £123 million on sustainable travel across the region since he took office in 2017, and was releasing more funding so councils can get to work on social distancing measures.

Liberal Democrat MP Mrs Hobhouse said: “Tory Tim Bowles received some £80million as part of the Transforming Cities Fund two years ago. This money is to improve the region’s sustainable transport. So far he has spent absolutely nothing on walking and cycling infrastructure.

“The local council has projects ready to go, and now has encouragement from Transport Minister Grant Shapps.

“All we get from Tim Bowles is dither and delay. He is letting the whole region down.

“Considering the Government is also urging people to avoid public transport for some considerable time, a message that Tim Bowles himself passed on to the region’s businesses, it is bizarre that he continues to hoard the money Government has already given us.”

Mrs Hobhouse said there was a unique opportunity to transform the region while the roads are quiet, and called on Mr Bowles to release £5 million each to the three councils – covering Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol and South Gloucestershire – so they can get to work.

The authorities are planning changes to roads and pavements to make social distancing easier when the lockdown is lifted.

Mr Bowles said the West of England Combined Authority will advance the £3 million set to come from Government to the three councils, adding: “On top of this, and any extra money we receive from the Government, I am making an extra £10 million of combined authority funding available so that we can get on with building that legacy.”