West Yorkshire has been awarded over £29 million for schemes to promote walking and cycling. It comes as West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) has been told it provides “very strong local leadership and organisational capability” when it comes to delivering active travel.

Higher-rated authorities receive greater proportions of capital funding, from Government, and WYCA has been awarded the highest allocation in Yorkshire and the Humber, says the Telegraph & Argus.

Today’s announcement reveals that West Yorkshire will get £29,018,362 for schemes that could include new cycle lanes, footpaths and towpath improvements over the next four years.

National Active Travel Commissioner Chris Boardman said:

“The aim of Active Travel England is to give people more everyday choice in how they get around, by creating safe, accessible and welcoming streets.

“Our innovative funding approach is proving effective, consistently raising the ability of local authorities to deliver the level of quality needed to achieve that ambition. This is evidenced by nine authorities improving their capability rating this year, showing what’s possible when investment and levels of support are carefully tuned to local needs.

“We are not just building infrastructure – together, we are creating communities: places where parents feel confident letting children travel independently, and where older people can reach local shops with ease. We are building life back into our streets.”

(Picture: Chris Snape)