Funding for local transport schemes ‘will help air quality’
Local transport schemes in England have won funding worth £113 million with air quality improvements one of the factors considered in assessing schemes.
Funding for 30 local transport schemes in England led by 29 local authorities was announced today by transport minister today by transport minister Norman Baker who added that they would help tackle air quality problems.
The projects have won funding totalling £113 million as part of the second allocation from the Local Sustainable Transport Fund. While 29 councils are leading the projects (Wokingham has two) other local authorities are involved as partners.
The Department for Transport said the schemes will help tackle problems such as poor air quality and that improved cycling and walking infrastructure will help to improve the health of the nation. And, it noted that the projects were all designed to create “a sustainable transport package that delivers economic growth and reduces carbon emissions.”
 For every £1 of DfT funding provided for these schemes, £1.19 is to be contributed by local authorities and other partners.
- Traffic in Kingston upon Hull – the local authority is one of the recipients of Department for Transport funding
The successful schemes include a variety of measures including improving sustainable transport options for commuters, creating public transport hubs, building better cycling infrastructure and even providing a new ferry service, the DfT said.
Mr Baker said: “The schemes we are funding today will benefit communities from Devon to Durham by cutting carbon emissions, reducing congestion and stimulating economic growth in these areas.
“By investing in these projects we are signalling our commitment to green growth which will help to kick-start economic activity in local areas while improving access to healthier forms of transport and addressing the problem of climate change.”
Financial sustainability
He said that the proposals were required to demonstrate financial sustainability with benefits enduring beyond the life of the Fund, to incorporate a credible delivery plan, and to include a commitment to make a local contribution towards the overall costs.
“In line with the published guidance, an assessment of value for money was undertaken. The Department is confident that the overall package of proposals approved in this second round represents high value for money.
I have decided to announce funding for 30 proposals in this round today, with a further announcement regarding the status of 18 more bids to be made soon. 26 proposals will be funded in full and a further 4 proposals will be funded in part. The list of decisions made today regarding Tranche 2 bids is attached.
The schemes to be funded include:
- Smarter Travel Slough which will reduce congestion on main roads in the rush hour by increasing the use of walking, cycling and public transport. This will improve air quality and health while supporting business efficiency.
- Walk to School Outreach will see Durham County Council working with national charity Living Streets and eight other councils to increase the number of children walking to school in 854 primary and 182 secondary schools nationally. The project aims to reduce congestion and improve health through exercise.
- Travel Torbay Regeneration Project will deliver a new fast ferry service between Torbay and Brixham which will see journey times cut by half, a new cycle route to encourage more low carbon journeys and a supporting package of employer based travel planning to help increase use of public transport.
- Access to Jobs, Training and Services in Stafford will aim to reduce congestion at peak times in Stafford by improving access to walking, cycling and public transport. People will be encouraged to reconsider their travel habits through offers of discounted bus travel and a new mobile cycle centre providing cyclists with information and advice as well as selling reconditioned bikes.
- Sustainable Transport Access to Tourism on the Isle of Wight will improve the island’s sustainable transport network to support its bid to become a leading destination for green tourism. This will include the provision of transport hubs and easily-accessible live travel information to help visitors and local people plan their journeys. Walking and cycling routes will also receive a boost.
| Local authorities and dft funds | |
|---|---|
| Bournemouth Borough Council | 4.636 million |
| Bracknell Forest Council | 1.664 million |
| Cambridgeshire County Council | 5 million |
| Central Bedfordshire Council | 4.954 million |
| Cheshire East Council | 3.509 million |
| Cheshire West and Chester Council | 4.578 million |
| Cornwall Council | 2.299 million |
| Coventry City Council | 3.496 million |
| Derby City Council | 4.922 million |
| Devon County Council | 4.999 million |
| Dorset County Council | 2.409 million |
| Durham County Council | 4.761 million |
| East Riding of Yorkshire Council | 0.942 million |
| Gloucestershire County Council | 4.969 million |
| Isle of Wight Council | 3.950 million |
| Kingston upon Hull City Council | 1.870 million |
| Lancashire County Council | 5 million |
| Leicestershire County Council | 4 million |
| Lincolnshire County Council | 4.899 million |
| North East Lincolnshire Council | 4.330 million |
| Northumberland County Council | 2.842 million |
| Portsmouth City Council | 5 million |
| Slough Borough Council | 4.305 million |
| Somerset County Council | 3.891 million |
| Staffordshire County Council | 4.239 million |
| Stockton on Tees Borough Council | 4.458 million |
| Torbay Council | 2.750 million |
| Warrington Borough Council | 4.650 million |
| Wokingham Borough Council | 2.750 million |
| Wokingham Borough Council | 0.868 million |
A full list of the successful bids is given below. All the schemes for which funding has been confirmed today are also receiving contributions from the local council or the private sector. In total, said the Department, the £113 million provided by DfT is allowing more than double that amount to be invested in these important projects.
The funding relates to schemes seeking contributions from the Department of less than £5 million. Large projects which have been allocated funding of more than £5 million from the Local Sustainable Transport Fund will be announced by the end of June 2012