THE county has lost out on yet more money to improve walking and cycling after another council bid for funding was rejected.
The Department for Transport has revealed that Worcestershire County Council will receive no government funding at all from its latest round of bids which have seen other councils across the country receive a share of millions of pounds to improve routes and install new dedicated cycle lanes.
This comes after the two previous bids by the council for active travel money fell way short of what was expected with the authority receiving just £784,000 of the £1.3 million it had bid for.
Councillor Mike Rouse, who replaced Cllr Alan Amos as cabinet member for highways and transport earlier this month, said improvements needed to be made.
“Active travel is an important issue and one that we need to get right as a council,” he said.
“There will be lessons to learn, and there are things we need to improve.
“This bid was submitted prior to my appointment, and as I said to full council last week, I take nothing off the table in my refreshed approach to how we encourage wider shifts towards more active means of travel.”
I take nothing off the table when it comes to the @worcscc @WorcsTravel response to improving bus services in Worcestershire, and we are considering all options including how #ActiveTravel can play a stronger role in enabling and encouraging people with their journeys, (1/2)
— Mike Rouse (@mikerouseuk) May 19, 2022
The council said it is waiting for feedback from the government on its bid.
READ MORE: Worcestershire will miss out on more than £550,000 in cycling money
READ MORE: Worcestershire at risk of losing infrastructure for cyclists and pedestrians
The failed bid is the latest in a line of funding rejections from the government and comes after a “hugely ambitious” council bid to transform bus services in Worcestershire was rejected outright.
Ministers rejected the entirety of the £84 million bid leaving a planned overhaul of the bus network in ruins.
The failed bid promised several improvements to bus services through more frequent pick-ups, extra ‘on-demand’ buses, a new smart ticketing system and eco-friendly buses as well as cheaper and simpler fares.
READ MORE: Worcestershire left with nothing as entire £86m bid to improve buses is rejected
The Department for Transport had warned that bids “lacking ambition” would be rejected.
The county council has already been warned by the government that it was at risk of losing out on walking and cycling funding if it could not prove it was taking active travel seriously.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel