Councillor slams county council's lack of transport funding

Matthew Jenkins, Green Party councillor, believes that the £50,000 awarded to the county from the Department for Transport’s Capability Fund was not enough.

The final funding allocations were confirmed on February 1 2022 for Worcestershire and other counties across the UK.

He said: "When the County Council fail to win money, they fail residents.

"Without funding, there are no meaningful improvements to our walking and cycling infrastructure, and with more people living in the city, our roads will become more gridlocked."

Worcestershire County Councillor, Matthew Jenkins.

The revenue grant is designed for local transport authorities to promote cycling by improving cycle lanes, walking in local areas by making improvements to pavements and walkways, as well as staffing and carrying out behaviour change activities (such as training and promotion).

Out of the 70 local authorities that money was awarded to, Worcestershire was the second-lowest on the list.

The average funds given to the 70 local authorities across the UK measure are £226,251.

The fund takes particular interest in bids that are compliant with the government cycling guidance LTN 1/20.

Read more: Call for stricter policing of "dangerous and illegal cycling" amid Highway Code changes

Worcestershire County Councillor, Alan Amos.

Councillor Alan Amos, cabinet member with responsibility for Highways and Transport, at Worcestershire County Council said, “Worcestershire County Council was awarded £50,000 as part of the Department for Transport’s Capability Fund to help fund walking and cycling resource in the county.

“The Council is committed to improving walking and cycling in the county.

"This includes ongoing improvements as part of the Emergency Active Travel Fund, enhanced infrastructure as part of the county’s major projects, for example on the A4440 Southern Link Road and A38 Bromsgrove Route Enhancement Programme and works to install new road crossings, dropped kerbs, tactile paving, new cycle parking facilities and improved bus stop infrastructure.”

Out of the 70 local authorities, the least amount of money awarded was to Rutland, who received £48,700, just £1300 less than Worcestershire.

According to Rutland County Council, they have an average population of 37,400 people, which registers as just 6.2% of Worcestershire's population (605,437).