Councillors at Cambridgeshire’s Highways and Transport Committee have agreed funding to progress the delivery of 16 Active Travel schemes.
More than £14 million of capital funding has been allocated to Cambridgeshire County Council for active travel schemes over the next four years by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) from the UK Government’s Local Transport Consolidated Settlement (LTCS) Fund.
Councillors separately agreed to reallocate £890,000 of Active Travel funding, previously allocated to an active travel route between Whittlesford and Duxford, towards a new crossing at the A14 Histon interchange.
This new scheme will address the lack of a safe crossing for students travelling between Cambridge and Histon, particularly those attending Impington Village College. This reallocation of previously approved funds is subject to further approval from Active Travel England (ATE) and the CPCA.
Additionally, councillors approved proposals for £2.776 million of LTCS revenue funding to be spent over the current financial year and the two following years, with the majority allocated to behaviour change initiatives to encourage active travel across the county. Examples of supported initiatives include Bikeability courses for schools, adaptive cycle training, community cargo-share hubs and schemes to support women and girls’ safety.
The council’s ongoing commit to delivering and maintaining active travel schemes aims to improve safety for people walking, wheeling and cycling; support health, wellbeing and local economic activity; increase participation in active travel, particularly among under-represented groups; and provide robust evidence for future investment decisions.
The Active Travel Programme is closely aligned with the council’s vision of a healthy, fair and sustainable Cambridgeshire – increasing rates of active travel across the county will enable safer and more reliable travel, promote active living – reducing health inequalities, and help to cut carbon emissions.
Cllr Alex Beckett, chair of the Highways and Transport Committee at Cambridgeshire County Council, said:
“Active travel remains one of our top priorities, so I’m delighted we’re approved a programme today, supported by fresh funding from Active Travel England, which will benefit diverse communities across Cambridgeshire over the next four years and beyond.
“Whether schemes are linking homes, schools, employment centres, leisure venues or travel hubs – when active travel is a reliable option for local journeys it leads to safer streets, less isolated and more interactive communities, cleaner air and better health.”
Cambridgeshire County Council has an Active Travel Centre of Excellence, with the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough area awarded level ‘three’ out of four for its approach by Active Travel England – the joint highest rating in the country.
(Picture: Yay Images)
