Westmorland and Furness Council has successfully secured more than £3.5 million of funding over the next four years to create even more dedicated walking, wheeling and cycling routes.
Active Travel England has awarded the ring-fenced funding in a four-year settlement to support the development of new schemes to encourage more people across Westmorland and Furness to choose active travel for everyday journeys.
Thanks to the funding, it will be possible to progress even more high-quality infrastructure projects identified in the area’s Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIP), offering safer, more accessible, and better-connected routes for residents and visitors to travel actively across the area.
By improving infrastructure, the council aims to encourage more people to opt for walking, wheeling, and cycling, reducing reliance on cars for short trips and contributing to a healthier, low-carbon transport network.
The Active Travel England funding announced this week comprises capital funding of £754,497 per year for the next four years, along with £236,729 of revenue funding per year for the next three years.
Councillor John Murray, Westmorland and Furness Council Cabinet Member for Transport and Regulatory Services welcomed the funding.
Councillor Murray said: “This announcement is fantastic news for our area. We have secured this money from a funding pot that is ring-fenced for active travel initiatives, so it can only be used for that specific purpose, and I want to extend my thanks to the team who put together this funding bid and who are working so hard to deliver our ambitious Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans.
“The fact that it is a long-term settlement is particularly welcome, providing the funding certainty that will allow us to strategically plan how we invest this money to really deliver on our commitment to creating greener, safer, and more accessible environments for active travel in Westmorland and Furness.’’
Previous funding has already been used to deliver new active travel schemes on North Walney, work is currently ongoing on another scheme on Abbey Road in Barrow and schemes are in development for Kendal’s riverside and as part of Penrith active travel improvements.
Now the latest funding has been secured, the council will be starting the process to assess how to allocate the money and which other projects can be taken forward over the next few years.
Creating new active travel infrastructure and promoting active travel for everyday journeys is an essential part of the council’s journey to achieving priorities on climate change, supporting sustainable economic growth and helping communities to lead active, healthy lives.
Councillor Murray continued: “By investing in sustainable transport options, we aim to encourage more people to choose walking, wheeling and cycling for shorter journeys, helping to reduce congestion, improve air quality, and enhance overall well-being for all generations.”