August 30, 2022
Cumbria County Council welcomes £1.5 million in funding to carry out pilot projects for Active Travel schemes in Barrow and Carlisle.
The government has awarded £12.7 million in multi-year funding to 11 local authority areas in England, with Cumbria County Council being one of the recipients. The £1.5m of funding is being made available over a three-year period until March 2025.
Cumbria County Council will collaborate with Barrow Borough Council and Carlisle City Council to provide support for older people, individuals with long-term health conditions, those in lower social economic groups, culturally diverse communities, and younger people.
The funding will be used to:
This programme complements the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPs) that have been prepared for Barrow and Carlisle. The LCWIPs identify and prioritise cycling and walking improvements at a local level, focusing on routes used for everyday shorter journeys. The council is now working with partners to secure funding to deliver active travel improvements identified in the LCWIPs.
Cllr Keith Little, Cumbria County Council Cabinet member for Highways and Transport, said:
"This is excellent news for Cumbria County Council, as the Department for Transport only selected 11 local authority areas in England to benefit from £12.7 million in multi-year funding.
“The funding success means that we can engage with health providers to tackle inactivity and help improve health and well-being in communities across central Barrow-¬in¬-Furness and Carlisle.
“Getting active is hugely beneficial for both our mental and physical health - helping reduce stress and ward off other illnesses, walking and cycling also improves air quality in our communities and will help to reduce congestion within our towns.
“I would like to encourage everyone to get involved with the programme and make it possible for this funding award to be really beneficial for our communities.”
Our Active Travel Officer's supports active and sustainable travel approaches for children, parents and carers across the county. Find out more here.