Deputy Minister for Economy and Transport Lee Waters has today announced grant funding for local authorities of over £30 million to improve access to active travel, deliver safer routes and improved road safety to communities across Wales.
This was published under the 2016 to 2021 administration of the Welsh Government
£12.7 million of the new Active Travel Fund have been allocated to ambitious active travel schemes that have the potential to transform walking and cycling in their area, while a share of £6.3 million will be allocated to all local authorities for minor improvement schemes on active travel routes, feasibility and pre-work on ambitious new schemes, and the promotion, monitoring and evaluation of schemes. The specific projects benefiting from the active travel funding will be announced shortly.
Safe Routes in Communities projects will receive a share of £5,028,595, such as Coity Higher Community Safe Routes in Bridgend, which will see footway widening, creation of railway station pedestrian access and new crossing points among other improvements.
The Road Safety money will be split between capital and revenue spend. Projects such as a route safety treatment and additional road safety measures identified in conjunction with police on the A4080 Llanfairpwll to Aberffraw in Anglesey and 20mph zones in Neath Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire and Swansea will take their funding from £3,969,743 of capital funding.
Road safety revenue funding has been prioritised for schemes and training promoting active travel. Over 80% of the of £1,858,355 of road safety revenue funding is directed towards such initiatives, with over £650,000 being allocated for National Standards Cycle training and over £850,000 for a variety of pedestrian safety schemes encouraging walking as an active journey.
Speaking ahead of a visit to High Street Primary in Barry, where he could see the money being put to practical use as children learned to cycle safely, the Deputy Minister Lee Waters said:
“Projects such as cycle training are invaluable if we are to encourage the next generation to see active travel as the natural choice for local journeys.
“The money awarded to capital projects will go to improve the infrastructure, which will make it possible for active travel to be safer for cyclists, pedestrians and motorists alike.
“Whilst active travel is embedded in all that we are trying to achieve through our transport funding, it’s been pleasing to see the nature and ambition of the specific projects which have been put forward by local authorities this year. I look forward to providing a little more detail on the nature of those projects shortly.”
High Street Primary’s Head Teacher Ceri-Ann Clark said:
"Cycle training in schools provides invaluable life skills to enable pupils to increase their independence on the roads safely."