Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Cycling and Walking: Local Authority Support

Thursday 17 September 2020 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Government are investing 2 billion in active travel over the next five years.
  • The first tranche of active travel funds was allocated to councils earlier in the summer.
  • Supporting regional bids for cycling and walking is vital for levelling up the country.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Jason McCartney Con
Transport
Context

The MP is concerned about local authorities maintaining and increasing levels of cycling and walking.

Question

What support his Department is providing to local authorities to maintain and increase levels of cycling and walking?

Answer from Chris Heaton-Harris

The Government are investing £2 billion in active travel over the next five years. That is the biggest ever boost for cycling and walking and, as we heard in the previous question, it is welcomed widely across the House.

Answered
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Q2 Tracey Crouch Con
Transport
Context

Medway Council has upgraded cycling and walking routes, but a section of the Aylesford towpath collapsed into the River Medway earlier this year and is now closed to over 6,000 users monthly. Kent County Council faces a significant shortfall in funds to repair it.

Question

Could the Minister offer any guidance towards emergency central Government funding pots that would enable the reopening of that incredibly popular path for cyclists and walkers?

Answer from Chris Heaton-Harris

The Government allocated the first tranche of active travel funds to councils earlier in the summer; a bigger second tranche will follow shortly. I am quite sure that my hon. Friend will be able to persuade her county council to make the appropriate investment in Aylesford towpath, and I would be very happy to work with her to try to help that happen.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific guidance on emergency funding pots was not provided; instead, the Minister offered to work with the MP to find a solution.

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Q3 Jason McCartney Con
Transport
Context

The Canal and River Trust team in the MP's constituency has submitted a bid for £45 million of funding from the Department as part of the commitment of £2 billion for cycling and walking.

Question

Does the Minister agree that supporting such regional bids is a big part of encouraging more cycling and walking in our regions, and that it is a vital part of our levelling up the country and improving the health of our constituents?

Answer from Chris Heaton-Harris

I happily agree with my hon. Friend; he is absolutely right. The canal towpath network across the country, a huge chunk of which runs through my constituency, is a wonderful place for walking and cycling. He is right to identify that we have committed a £2 billion package to active travel.

Answered
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