• Central Bedfordshire to receive an extra £600,000 to boost cycling and walking infrastructure
• The Active Travel Fund is designed to create safe space for cycling and walking
• Part of the Government’s £2 billion investment into cycling and walking

South West Bedfordshire MP, Andrew Selous has welcomed news that Central Bedfordshire is set to receive an additional £600,000 from the Government’s Active Travel Fund – designed to create safe space for cycling and walking. 

The money will be provided to the local council and could be used to fund measures such as School Streets, Low Traffic Neighbourhoods and segregated cycle lanes. In total, £175 million is being allocated to local authorities across England in the latest round of allocations from the fund. 

Following discussions with local MPs, the Government has stipulated that councils receiving money will have to meet tough new conditions to ensure that schemes are properly thought out and that their impact on other road users are closely weighed up. Councils will also have longer to spend the money, ensuring there is time to consult local communities. If these conditions are not met, future funding allocations will be reduced and the Government could clawback some of the money already provided. 

Commenting, Andrew Selous MP said: 

“As many of us have tried to avoid public transport in recent months, we’ve seen a huge increase in the number of people opting to walk or get on their bike when moving around.

I’m delighted that Central Bedfordshire will benefit from additional funding to make our local area more bike and pedestrian-friendly, while maintaining the access and space other road users still need.”