Gateshead awarded nearly £1m in funding for active travel
Vital projects to encourage more active travel in Gateshead have won close to £1m funding from the fourth round of the national Active Travel Fund.
The new funding - part of nearly £18m awarded to schemes across the North East - will enable us to invest in three key projects:
· East Gateshead LCWIP (Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan, phase 2) - a series of cycling improvements in the Felling and Deckham, to align with the Social Prescribing Pilot in the area, to improve people's health by encouraging more walking and cycling.
· Developing projects to improve active travel facilities, aimed at mitigating the impact of maintenance works on the Tyne Bridge (a joint scheme with Newcastle City Council and Nexus)
· A package of minor interventions to support the establishment of School Streets in the vicinity of schools, to encourage active travel - part of a regionwide award.
Overall the North East has received £17.7m in government funding from the fourth round of the Active Travel Fund to invest in the region's walking, wheeling and cycling network.
This will create new and enhanced cycling and walking infrastructure, making it easier and safer for more people across the region to choose active, low carbon transport options when they are able to.
The case for investment was successfully made to Active Travel England and our officers will now work to prepare detailed design and consult on successful schemes.
Councillor John McElroy, cabinet member for the environment and transport, said:
"This investment is vital to help boost the numbers walking and cycling in Gateshead. As a long time advocate of the benefits of cycling, I'm hugely supportive of schemes to open it up to the widest possible audience in the community.
"The health benefits of leading a more active lifestyle are clear, so we must do all we can to promote that."
Councillor Martin Gannon, Leader of Gateshead Council and Chair of the North East Joint Transport Committee, said:
"I'm delighted that the North East has been awarded £17.7m in funding to enhance our walking, wheeling and cycling network.
"This is great news for local residents as it will help many people to enjoy walking, wheeling and cycling and the health and well-being benefits that come with active travel.
"We are committed as a region to providing safe and appealing transport choices and an attractive active travel network is a huge part of that.
"This phase of investment will go a long way to transform the daily travel choices available for many local people and I'm pleased that this is another positive step towards a green transport revolution for the North East, paving the way for further investment.
"Our region is determined to tackle the climate emergency we all face and encouraging more sustainable travel for everyday journeys will help us to reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality - this is wonderful news."
National Active Travel Commissioner, Chris Boardman, added:
"By giving millions of people the freedom of choice to walk, wheel or cycle for everyday trips, this funding will help us improve public health, tackle climate change and give hundreds of thousands of children the independence to travel safely under their own steam.
"Now our focus is working with councils to get these schemes built swiftly. We'll be working together to ensure the projects are well designed and effective, so that they bring maximum benefits to communities and help improve lives nationwide."
· For further information, visit https://www.transportnortheast.gov.uk/campaigns-and-initiatives/active-travel-fund/
· View the North East Transport Plan here: www.transportnortheast.gov.uk/transportplan
· View the Making the Right Travel Choice Strategy here: https://www.transportnortheast.gov.uk/strategy-and-policy/sustainabletravel/
Vital projects to encourage more active travel in Gateshead have won close to £1m funding from the fourth round of the national Active Travel Fund.
The new funding - part of nearly £18m awarded to schemes across the North East - will enable us to invest in three key projects:
· East Gateshead LCWIP (Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan, phase 2) - a series of cycling improvements in the Felling and Deckham, to align with the Social Prescribing Pilot in the area, to improve people's health by encouraging more walking and cycling.
· Developing projects to improve active travel facilities, aimed at mitigating the impact of maintenance works on the Tyne Bridge (a joint scheme with Newcastle City Council and Nexus)
· A package of minor interventions to support the establishment of School Streets in the vicinity of schools, to encourage active travel - part of a regionwide award.
Overall the North East has received £17.7m in government funding from the fourth round of the Active Travel Fund to invest in the region's walking, wheeling and cycling network.
This will create new and enhanced cycling and walking infrastructure, making it easier and safer for more people across the region to choose active, low carbon transport options when they are able to.
The case for investment was successfully made to Active Travel England and our officers will now work to prepare detailed design and consult on successful schemes.
Councillor John McElroy, cabinet member for the environment and transport, said:
"This investment is vital to help boost the numbers walking and cycling in Gateshead. As a long time advocate of the benefits of cycling, I'm hugely supportive of schemes to open it up to the widest possible audience in the community.
"The health benefits of leading a more active lifestyle are clear, so we must do all we can to promote that."
Councillor Martin Gannon, Leader of Gateshead Council and Chair of the North East Joint Transport Committee, said:
"I'm delighted that the North East has been awarded £17.7m in funding to enhance our walking, wheeling and cycling network.
"This is great news for local residents as it will help many people to enjoy walking, wheeling and cycling and the health and well-being benefits that come with active travel.
"We are committed as a region to providing safe and appealing transport choices and an attractive active travel network is a huge part of that.
"This phase of investment will go a long way to transform the daily travel choices available for many local people and I'm pleased that this is another positive step towards a green transport revolution for the North East, paving the way for further investment.
"Our region is determined to tackle the climate emergency we all face and encouraging more sustainable travel for everyday journeys will help us to reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality - this is wonderful news."
National Active Travel Commissioner, Chris Boardman, added:
"By giving millions of people the freedom of choice to walk, wheel or cycle for everyday trips, this funding will help us improve public health, tackle climate change and give hundreds of thousands of children the independence to travel safely under their own steam.
"Now our focus is working with councils to get these schemes built swiftly. We'll be working together to ensure the projects are well designed and effective, so that they bring maximum benefits to communities and help improve lives nationwide."
· For further information, visit https://www.transportnortheast.gov.uk/campaigns-and-initiatives/active-travel-fund/
· View the North East Transport Plan here: www.transportnortheast.gov.uk/transportplan
· View the Making the Right Travel Choice Strategy here: https://www.transportnortheast.gov.uk/strategy-and-policy/sustainabletravel/
