The Department for Transport (DfT) has launched a £200m active travel fund to help councils in England improve transport links and walking routes to “boost local economies”.
Local authorities have been invited to bid for a share of the fund, which is managed by government agency, Active Travel England. DfT said the funding will help councils make improvements to crossings and junctions and rural paths as well as develop safer routes for children to walk to school.
The department also highlighted that investment in active travel will grow the economy by improving transport links, boosting high streets and creating jobs.
Mark Harper, transport secretary, said: “This £200m investment for hundreds of upgraded routes and paths across the country will help to reduce emissions, boost local economies and create jobs.”
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Councils’ bids will be designed in consultation with residents and businesses to ensure schemes are safe and work for local communities. The successful projects will be announced later this year.
David Renard, transport spokesperson for the Local Government Association, welcomed the launch of the fund, suggesting that it would help councils meet their climate change targets by investing in clean transport methods. However, he criticised DfT’s use of competitive bids to distribute the funding.
Renard said: “It’s helpful that the government recognises capacity constraints that councils face, and this funding will support them with efforts to get more people out of their cars and using greener forms of transport.
“However, funding must be delivered to where it is needed the most, not based on costly competitive bids between areas.”
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