Hampshire County Council is providing more walking and cycling projects across the county.
Councillor Rob Humby, Deputy Leader of Hampshire County Council and Executive Member for Economy, Transport and Environment, said: “The Coronavirus pandemic has changed the way we travel. Evidence indicates we are travelling more locally and cycling and walking more. We are making significantly fewer work journeys. This is a critical time to make changes to our high streets and roads to support a prosperous, healthy and green recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, making it easier for people to sustain healthier lifestyles, while helping to meet the County Council’s targets in our Climate Change Strategy to reduce carbon emissions.”
Proposals include a three-year Integrated Transport Plan (ITP) Programme for 2021 – 2024 totalling £90.706 million, that incorporates £39 million from the Department for Transport’s (DfT) Transforming Cities Fund. Hampshire County Council will use this money to provide a range of measures, including plans to create better spaces for people walking and cycling in the parts of Hampshire adjoining the Portsmouth and Southampton City Council areas.
The Transforming Cities Fund schemes will see Hampshire County Council deliver 22 schemes; 10 for the Portsmouth City Region consists of 10 schemes (£21 million) and a further 12 schemes in the Southampton City Region (£18 million).
In addition, Hampshire County Council has recently received confirmation that it has been successful in securing £3.28 million from the DfT’s Active Travel Fund. This will allow Hampshire County Council to provide a range of further measures to create better spaces for people walking and cycling.
Councillor Humby added: “These successful bids show what can be achieved through dedicated partnership working and builds on our ambitions to support our area’s greener economic recovery from the Coronavirus outbreak, linking transport and housing developments, helping to reduce congestion, and improve air quality. This is a critical time to make changes to our High Streets and road network to support a prosperous, healthy and green recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, making it easier for people to sustain healthier lifestyles, while helping to meet the County Council’s targets in our Climate Change Strategy to reduce carbon emissions. In combination, the bids for Transforming Cities Fund have yielded in excess of £35 million on measures to support sustainable growth and travel in south Hampshire, and through partnership working have brought in well in excess of £100 million investment to the area.”