• Torbay to receive an extra £132,600 to boost cycling and walking infrastructure
• The Active Travel Fund is designed to create safe space for cycling and walking
• Part of the Government’s £2 billion investment into cycling and walking

Torbay’s MP Kevin Foster has welcomed news our bay is set to receive an additional £132,600 from the Government’s Active Travel Fund – designed to create safe space for cycling and walking.

The money will be provided to the local council and could be used to fund measures such as School Streets, Low Traffic Neighbourhoods and segregated cycle lanes. In total, £175 million is being allocated to local authorities across England in the latest round of allocations from the fund.

Following discussions with local MPs, the Government has stipulated councils receiving money will have to meet tough new conditions to ensure schemes are properly thought out and their impact on other road users are closely weighed up. Councils will also have longer to spend the money, ensuring there is time to consult local communities. If these conditions are not met, future funding allocations will be reduced and the Government could clawback some of the money already provided.

Commenting, Kevin Foster MP said:

“This latest funding boost is welcome news and will help more people in the bay walk or cycle. Given concerns about a lack of consultation on some schemes I also welcome the Government making clear there are clear conditions attached to ensure schemes take on board the feedback of local businesses and residents, plus have a slightly longer period of time to implement schemes to allow this.”

As many of us have tried to avoid public transport in recent months, we’ve seen a huge increase in the number of people opting to walk or get on their bike when moving around.”

ENDS

For further information, please contact Kevin Foster on 01803 214 989.

Notes to Editors

• We are providing £175 million to help upgrade cycling and walking infrastructure in local areas across England. As part of the Government’s Active Travel Fund, a further £175 million is being provided to local authority areas. The money can be used to fund measures including School Streets, where streets around schools are closed to motorists at school times; Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, where residential side streets are closed to through traffic to stop rat-running; segregated cycle lanes; and pedestrian improvements (DfT, News Story, 13 November 2020).

• We are ensuring roads are protected for motorists and other users, and that local communities are consulted on planned changes. For this, which is the second round of funding from the Active Travel Fund, the Transport Secretary has set tough new conditions on councils receiving funding, requiring them to ensure schemes are properly thought out, and the effects of schemes on all road users are closely weighed up. Councils will also have longer to consult local communities (DfT, News Story, 13 November 2020).

• This builds on the previous £250 million provided to councils, to help create emergency cycling and walking space during the first lockdown. The funding was used to create pop-up bike lanes with protected space for cycling, wider pavements, safer junctions and cycle and bus-only corridors in England, as people were urged to avoid public transport (DfT, News Story, 9 May 2020, link).

• The Conservative Government will invest £2 billion to upgrade walking and cycling infrastructure across England. The Active Travel Fund is one part of this wider £2 billion investment, which will be accompanied by an updated Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy. The Government aims to double cycling and increase walking by 2025 (DfT, News Story, 9 May 2020, link).

Annex: Funding allocations

Local authority

Funding (£)

Cornwall UA1

607,000

Devon

1,283,450

Plymouth UA

945,250

Torbay UA

132,600