Council secures over £800,000 for active travel initiatives
THE Vale of Glamorgan Council has secured more than £800,000 of funding for active travel projects in the County.
This money will go towards improving existing walking and cycling routes and assessing the feasibility of creating new ones in the rural Vale.
Information from the Council’s ongoing Active Travel Statutory Consultation was used in the five applications approved by Welsh Government.
A funding award of 250,000 will be used to create a new toucan crossing near the Walston Castle in Wenvoe, with the remainder used to enhance existing routes by installing the likes of dropped kerbs, seating and murals.
Penarth is to get two new OVObike docking stations, while a scheme from Barons Court to Penarth Road will also be developed following a successful £200,000 funding bid.
A sum of £220,000 has been secured to create five new active travel routes, including Cowbridge to Ystradowen and Culverhouse Cross to St Nicholas, as well as the installation of cycle counters and cycle parking.
An additional section will be added to a route outside the Gathering Place in St Athan, while the viability of a route between the village and Rhoose will also be investigated as part of a £120,000 funding allowance.
A further £45,000 will go towards data analysis, publicity and promotion.
Cllr Peter King, Vale of Glamorgan Council Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Services and Transport, said: “I’m delighted we have been able to secure this funding, which will go towards enhancing existing active travel schemes and exploring the possibility of creating even more, particularly in the Western Vale.
“Encouraging cycling and walking is not only good for individual health, it also benefits the environment.
“Having declared a Climate Emergency, schemes such as these form an important part of our Project Zero initiative, which aims to significantly reduce carbon emission levels across the County.”
Deputy Minister for Climate Change, with a responsibility for Transport, Lee Waters said: “We know that getting people out of cars for short journeys to cycle or walk is an ambitious agenda, but if we’re to meet our net zero carbon emission target by 2050 we need to take action now.
“Having the right infrastructure in place is key to encouraging more people to feel safe to walk and cycle and that’s why we’ve committed to investing significant funding in active travel this year.”