B&NES Council set to approve grant funding for sustainable transport schemes
It's said to be the 'next step' in funding the six travel schemes across Bath and North East Somerset
Last updated 9th Jun 2024
In a weeks' time, Bath and North East Somerset Council are set to vote on a motion to formally approve grant funding from the West of England Combined Authority to help secure sustainable transport solutions.
The funding
It's been granted by the CA to help fund a number of transport schemes across the district, with £120 million pounds set to be delivered between now and March 2027.
Six schemes across B&NES are said to 'significantly' improve public transport, walking and cycling routes, as well as helping to better connect local communities by taking the bus, walking or going by bike.
The funding comes from the regional allocation of £540 million, which the Department for Transport awarded to the West of England Combined Authority earlier this year, as part of its five year City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement programme (CRSTS).
The cabinet report considered the approval process for the implementation of the CRSTS programme in consultation with the council’s S151 Officer and appropriate Cabinet members.
The schemes across Bath and North East Somerset
- Bristol to Bath A4 Corridor - with improved measures for bus priority lanes, as well as cycling routes, and a new transport hub near Keynsham
- Somer Valley links to Bristol and Bath - with improved links, including measures for bus priority lanes, transport hubs, and cycling routes
- Bath sustainable transport - with improved public transport links across the city, as well as bus priority lanes, bus station improvements and segregated routes for cyclists
- Liveable neighbourhoods - with improved crossings for walkers and cyclers as well as tree planting schemes
Councillor Sarah Warren, deputy leader and cabinet member for Climate and Sustainable Travel, said: “We welcome the substantial allocation of government funding, which will significantly benefit the West of England region and Bath and North East Somerset. It will provide an unprecedented opportunity to drive growth, de-carbonisation and productivity through infrastructure investment, which will also help tackle regional inequalities.
“The grant funding will be added to existing funding within the council, including the Maintenance Challenge Fund, to create an overall spend of approximately £133million over the next five years, for new sustainable transport schemes and highways improvements, such as the recent renovation of Cleveland Bridge.
“As part of the council’s journey to net zero priorities, which aims for Bath and North East Somerset to be carbon neutral by 2030, it is imperative that we provide an efficient, reliable and sustainable transport network, particularly in rural communities. The CRSTS funding will help us to achieve that by delivering schemes which will enable even more residents to leave their car at home and choose to walk, wheel, cycle or use public transport.”
The cabinet meeting will be broadcast live from 6:30pm on Thursday 10 November on the council’s YouTube channel.