Active travel misses out in Budget

 

Campaigners have complained that the Government has ducked its responsibilities in active travel in the 2020 Budget.

In February, prime minister Boris Johnson announced £5bn of new funding for buses and cycling but Treasury officials have now said 'further details will be announced at the CSR [comprehensive spending review], alongside a National Bus Strategy'.

The only real mention of cycling came as part of the £1bn allocation from the Transforming Cities Fund - a funding pot was first unveiled in the Autumn Budget 2017.

The Government claimed in total around £800m of the cash was for cycling and buses 'in line with its priorities', suggesting this money forms part of the £5bn Boris Johnson pledged. However the vast majority of this seems to have been for buses not cycling.

There was also £1bn for 'green transport' but this was directed towards electric vehicles, including charging points and grants.

Paul Tuohy, chief executive of the national cycling charity, Cycling UK, said: 'It’s beyond belief that the chancellor has announced £1bn will be spent on ‘green transport solutions’ without a single penny committed to cycling or walking in today’s Budget, leaving English councils outside London with no earmarked money whatsoever to spend on their local cycling and walking network plans from the start of next month.

'By its own research, the Government needs to spend at least £6bn to meet its target of doubling cycling and increasing walking by 2025, but sadly it’s become clear its commitment to active travel has been parked in this budget and that’s a huge disappointment.'

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