South West Cash Injection

The South West has been allocated a total of £23.1m of government funding for cycling and walking schemes.

Somerset Council will receive £1,583,322

Money from the Active Travel Fund will go to local authorities in Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Dorset with the investment delivering 49 schemes across the South West.

The funding is part of a country-wide £200m package, first announced in February this year.

Transport secretary Mark Harper said the government wanted to make sure everyone across the country could choose "cheaper, greener and healthier travel".

He continued:
"This £200m investment will improve road safety, ease congestion across the South West and on public transport, and ultimately improve the health and wellbeing of the millions of people choosing active travel."

National Active Travel commissioner Chris Boardman said the funding would help to "improve public health, tackle climate change and give hundreds of thousands of children the independence to travel safely under their own steam."

The government said safety and accessibility would be at the heart of the work, meaning "safety for women and children walking to school would be improved and people in wheelchairs and mobility scooters would see street designs become more inclusive."

Curry Rivel Active Travel has been campaigning for safer cycle and footways and easier access within and around the village for some time now – you can read more about the group and get involved here or on their facebook page, here.

Curry Rivel Active Travel is now wondering how much of the £1,583,322 allocated to Somerset Council might be coming its way!