Wiltshire Council awarded more than £1m to boost walking, wheeling and cycling in the county

Thursday, 13 February 2025 07:00

Wiltshire residents are set to benefit from improved walking, wheeling, and cycling infrastructure as Wiltshire Council has secured £1,042,507 from a national fund aimed at making active travel easier and safer across England.

The funding, announced yesterday (Wednesday 12th February) by the Government and Active Travel England (ATE), will enable the council to develop new and improved footpaths, cycle lanes, and junctions to make sustainable travel a more attractive option for local communities.

The improvements will also encourage safer travel to schools, with thousands of children expected to benefit from better cycling and walking routes across the country.

Cllr Tamara Reay, Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “We’re delighted to receive this funding, which will allow us to enhance active travel infrastructure across Wiltshire. The actual schemes we’ll spend this funding on are yet to be confirmed, but it is likely to be a mix of delivering new infrastructure and developing plans for new routes.

“Improving walking and cycling routes will not only make it easier for people to travel sustainably but also contribute to better public health and reduced carbon emissions, in turn improving air quality.

“We are committed to having well-connected communities in our Business Plan, and this funding will help us to deliver that.”

The funding is part of the government’s Plan for Change, which aims to boost local economies, ease pressure on the NHS, and create greener, healthier communities.

Alongside this funding, ATE is releasing new guidance to ensure that local communities are actively involved in designing and delivering transport changes.

More information about ATE can be found at www.activetravelengland.gov.uk.

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