Communities in the North East awarded £21m boost to build for the future

Communities in the North East will benefit from more than £21 million funding to increase light rail services, regenerate local economies and make roads safer for pedestrians and cyclists, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has announced today (Saturday 23 May).

The North East has been allocated a share of £225 million announced earlier this month, to create new and permanent cycle lanes and reallocate road space to give more room to pedestrians and cyclists. The remaining £25 million of emergency funding will be used to help people get their bikes repaired so they can get back to cycling.

On Friday, the Transport Secretary amended laws to reduce red tape and halve the time it takes for councils to get these schemes up and running, helping local authorities accommodate for the step-change in behaviour as more people turn to cycling and walking. 

This comes as additional funding is made available for bus and light rail services across England – including £7.6 million for the Tyne and Wear Metro to help increase the number of services as quickly as possible. The funding will give operators the resources to ramp up light rail services, allowing people travelling to hospitals, supermarkets or their place of work to get to their destination while helping ensure there is enough space for them to observe social distancing guidelines.

The Transport Secretary has also agreed to give £5 million from Restoring Your Railways funding to develop proposals to drive forward the return of passenger services on the Ashington-Blyth-Tyne Line in Northumberland, in addition to the £1.5 million initially pledged. Proposals to reinstate passenger services and enhancing freight capacity between Skipton and Colne have also been progressing as further work looking at reinstating the passenger services continues.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said:  

“From NHS staff to transport and shop workers, teachers, volunteers and all those staying at home, people across the country are all sharing the same public-spirited approach to tackling the spread of this virus and keeping others safe. 

“To make sure people can travel safely when they need to, we are increasing capacity on buses and light rail, as well as helping local authorities fast-track plans to support cyclists and pedestrians, further reducing pressure on our transport network.  

“These measures will help keep passengers safe now, but we must also prepare for what comes next. Strengthening vital road and railway connections, as well as encouraging cycling and walking, will be essential to our ambition to level up the country, secure a green legacy, and kickstart regional economies, as we build out of Covid-19 and look to the future.”  

Cycling Minister Chris Heaton-Harris said:

“We’re living in a time where many people are cycling and walking more than they did before, and we must build on this opportunity to bring about longer-term change – where active travel is viewed as the default for shorter journeys, long after this crisis has finished.

“This funding for the North East will help councils provide more space for walking and cycling and make it easier for people to get out and about and reduce the pressure on public transport.”

Today’s package follows the announcement of £105 million for the North East from the Transport Infrastructure Investment Fund which is being invested to help councils improve roads, repair bridges and fill millions of potholes in their communities.