News that the Island is to receive £235,600 of investment to improve its walking and cycling networks has been welcomed by Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely.
The news comes as part of a government announcement by Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, to give councils across England £175 million to create opportunities for walking and cycling.
The new money is intended to fund measures such as ‘School Streets’, where streets around schools are closed to motorists at school times, low-traffic neighbourhoods, where residential side streets are closed to through traffic to stop rat-running, segregated cycle lanes and pedestrian improvements.
However, the Transport Secretary has set tough new conditions on councils receiving funding, requiring them to ensure schemes are properly consulted on. He said councils must:
• Publish plans to show how they will consult their communities, including residents, businesses and emergency services, among others
• Show evidence of appropriate consultation prior to schemes being implemented
• Submit monitoring reports on the implementation of schemes 6-12 months after their opening, highlighting how schemes have been modified based on local feedback to ensure they work for communities
Mr Seely said:
“This is good news for the Island. It’s great for those of us who live here and want to walk or cycle more, but it’s also great for our visitors who are looking to come and enjoy what the Island has to offer.
“Walking and cycling is something I have been doing a lot more of during lockdown and it would be great to see our networks enhanced. I’m also chatting with landowners and Natural Enterprise about continuing to make progress on the west wight cycle route linking Yarmouth to Newport.
Article continues below this advertisement “I look forward to working with the council and others on how this money can be spent to enhance the networks we already have.”
The funding is part of the government’s wider plans to boost active travel. Commitments from the plan include making cycle training available for every adult who wants it, setting new, higher standards for cycling infrastructure and boosting access to e-bikes.
Brilliant idea get the cycles off the road
Really? I do wonder sometimes at your comments!
Can’t wait until all IOW councillors set an example for us all and bike it to town hall and back. They ARE going to, right?
Hmm, going to consult with the public and businesses, well that will be a first if they do listen and act on the information given to them.
I don’t think they will take a blind piece of notice and they will spend on something totally worthless like a fenced off cycle lane round Coppins Bridge.
Closing off streets around schools at busy times.. Oh dear, that would mean that parents wouldn’t be able to drive right up to the front door of the school & block the roads up, they’d have to park down the road & ‘walk’ their children to the school! Great idea.
And block other roads up for longer.
Bob Seely on a bike, I am from near where he resides ( sometimes ) and I have never seen him on a bike once !!!!