Research by a national cycling charity has revealed that some councils in England are spending up to 170 times more per head on ‘active travel’ than others – and the Isle of Wight Council is in the bottom 5 councils in terms of spending.
The figures, obtained by Cycling UK through a series of Freedom of Information requests detail spending on active travel schemes – including core funding and one-off bids and grants.
In 2020-21, the average spend across councils nationwide was £7.65 per head. The Isle of Wight Council spent only £1.15 per head, leaving it 5 places from the bottom of the ranking, with Hillingdon hitting the lowest point with just £0.20 spent per head.
Duncan Dollimore, Cycling UK’s head of campaigns, commented:
“Spending money on cycling and walking is not about party politics, it is about improving quality of life for everyone. If you look at who controls the four councils that devoted most core funding to active travel, you find all three main political parties represented.
“What these figures show is that while some councils are doing a good job of investing in active travel schemes, both from their own funds and through seeking grants, other parts of the country risk being left behind.
“We need more equality in active travel, which is why our local election manifesto asks every local authority in England to move up the gears and invest more in cycling and walking.”
An Isle of Wight Council spokesperson said:
”The Isle of Wight Council has been proactive and successful in securing a number of grants for walking and cycling projects.
“It is also investing in the Rights of Way network, which supports the active transport programme. This investment is not included in the figures that informed the spending league, nor do the tables reflect the costs to implement (which will be higher in some areas) or the number and type of project underway on the Island, that will see a further increase in the availability of Active Transport opportunities over the next couple of years.
“Grants are also allocated based on population size. Eight of the top ten spending areas have populations over 234,980 and are urban areas. A number of factors have to be considered and a low per head or average figure spend does not mean the Island is lacking in Active Transport.”
No s:it Sherlock
Our council need all the money they can get for fb and pay rises
It not in there best interest to be top of anything.
Let’s hope after the re shuffle it changes but I doubt it very very very much
Maybe if cyclists used the cycle tracks more the council would deem them worth spending money on, with the last council it seemed to be the less it gets used the less money is put into it.
and if they were stopped from using the pavements, made to obey one way restrictions and obey traffic lights.
I think what you meant to say was ”if they stopped SOME of them… etc”. All the cyclists I know including myself are perfectly law abiding, some people, including drivers, do break traffic laws, and those that do should be fined, cyclists and drivers alike.
NO surprise whatsoever. Much lip service has been paid to green travel credentials etc by the now ousted administration, but the reality as ever is that virtually nothing has been done about it. Perhaps the new coalition might get its act together and pull its finger out.
Await with baited breath on that one!!!
We all hope things will now change but please remember the Council Tax
Yes wash your own ruddy car’s don’t waste our council tax money on a tiny bird poo ?!?! £8-49p lazy beep s ….
Yep, I here you sister, even though I ain’t got s clue what you are going on about? Regarding cyclists,there are already to many of them,when I am dashing to get the kids to school they are everywhere! They should not be allowed out during peak times,or make them pay road tax!