Alok Sharma has welcomed £1,300,000 of Government funding for a new cycling scheme along Bath Road and Castle Hill in his constituency.

The Government’s £200 million Active Travel Fund marks the ‘golden age’ of cycling and walking – enabling communities across the country to get out on their bikes and enjoy cheaper, cleaner and greener travel across their area.

This includes £161 million of funding for 134 schemes across 46 local authorities outside of London to deliver new footways, cycle lanes and pedestrian crossings.

In addition, 19 authorities will also receive a share of £1.5 million for ‘mini-Holland’ feasibility studies, to assess how the areas could be as pedestrian and cycle-friendly as their Dutch city equivalents.  

The Government has also confirmed it will inject £35 million to improving the quality, safety and accessibility of the National Cycle Network, a UK-wide network of paths and routes for walking, cycling or wheeling managed by the independent charity Sustrans. The new funding will see 44 off-road-sections of the Network upgraded to ensure they endure for years to come.  

Up to £8 million is also going towards a new programme to accelerate the uptake of e-cycles by offering short and long-term loans of e-cycles. The pilot scheme, which will be delivered by Cycling UK and launched earlier this week in Greater Manchester, will be massively beneficial in enabling those with longer or hillier journeys to cycle and access employment opportunities in a way that’s not only more affordable but is easier, faster and good for our planet.  

This announcement is the next phase of an initial £2 billion investment up to 2025 to put in place connected local routes to give people the choice to walk or ride instead of driving – cleaning our air giving people more choice of travel around their local community.

Alok said:

“As we focus on greener and cheaper travel to slash emissions and address the cost of living, it is vital we provide communities with the infrastructure they need to enjoy active travel.”

Alok continued:

“That is why I am delighted the Government will be committing £1,300,000 for a new cycle scheme along Bath Road and Castle Hill, marking the Government’s longstanding commitment to improve the quality, safety and accessibility of walking and cycling routes. Providing the infrastructure to boost active, green and cheaper travel not only cleans our air but increases the choice of travel and makes it easier for people to keep active.”

Transport Minister Trudy Harrison said: 

“This multi-million-pound investment will ensure people right across the country can access cheap, healthy and zero-emission travel. Active Travel England will be working hard to create a new golden age of walking and cycling, enabling everyone to reap the benefits of a more active lifestyle, creating streets where children can play, and making nicer places to live.”

Photo: Image by Manfred Antranias Zimmer from Pixabay