£10.4 million awarded for active travel improvements in Oxfordshire
Cyclists, pedestrians and residents in Oxfordshire will benefit from a £10.4 million government grant to improve walking and cycling infrastructure in the county.
Oxfordshire County Council has been awarded funding from the third phase of the government’s active travel fund. The council has previously been awarded grants of £600,000 from phase one and £2.98m from phase two.
The funding will support infrastructure improvements across the county including £2m to improve Witney High Street, £1.8m to improve Bicester’s A41 and £237,500 for the School Streets programme.
Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Management, said: “This award is an excellent opportunity to improve cycling and walking infrastructure across our county and make journeys by bicycle or on foot an easier choice. This will in turn help to reduce congestion, improve air quality and improve the safety and health of residents across Oxfordshire.
“We have engaged with communities, district and parish councils and residents to identify projects that would benefit from this investment. The scale of the award means that we will be able to implement these schemes that will benefit the county for the long term.”
Councillor Duncan Enright, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Travel and Development Strategy, said: “This is great news for our county and will bring exciting opportunities in our beloved city and market towns. In Witney this will allow us to improve the high street for people who walk and cycle, which will also help local businesses as people will spend more and stay longer.”
In awarding the funding, the Department for Transport recognised the council’s high quality cycling infrastructure including within highways projects, planning and designing for commercial cycling and cycle parking and other equipment. The funding is expected to be received in July.
Ends
For more information about this release contact Oxfordshire County Council’s communications team on 01865 323870 or email press.office@oxfordshire.gov.uk
Notes to editors
The grant will support infrastructure investment across the county including the delivery of improvements to:
- Bicester, A41/London Road
- Bicester, Middleton Stoney Road and Shakespeare Drive
- Witney High Street
- Oxford, Garsington Road
- Oxford, School Streets programme
The grant will also support the council to develop plans to improve:
- Abingdon, Ock Street
- B4044 Eynsham to Botley cycle/foot path
- Berinsfield to Oxford cycle route
- Cowley, Between Towns Road junctions with Oxford Road and Church Cowley Road
- Wheatley to Oxford corridor