Shropshire awarded £5m sustainable transport funding

Shropshire Council has today (5 July 2011) been awarded almost £5m by the Department for Transport (DfT) following a successful bid to the DfT’s new Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF).

Shropshire’s bid for £4.99million was one of 34 (out of the 73 bids submitted) which have been awarded full funding over the period 2011-15.

The money will be spent on a wide range of measures which meet the objectives of supporting and boosting the local economy, and cutting carbon emissions.

Shropshire Council’s bid includes a package of measures to bring about changes in travel behaviour and greater use of more sustainable travel, such as walking, cycling and public transport, and to better manage traffic.

This will include building on the successful work of the Cycle Shrewsbury campaign; setting up similar projects in Oswestry and Ludlow; and promoting initiatives such as car-sharing, car clubs and hydrogen-powered cars.

Shropshire Council’s bid also places a strong emphasis on measures that will increase access to work, training and education.

More details of exactly what the funding will mean in practice and how it will be spent will be announced as soon as possible.

Councillor Simon Jones, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for transport, said:

“This is fantastic news for Shropshire Council but, most importantly, it’s great news for the people of Shropshire.  The success of our bid is recognition of the excellent work already being done by the council and our partners, to encourage people to reduce their car use, with the resulting financial, health and environmental benefits that this brings.  I look forward to announcing exactly how the funding will be spent as soon as we can.”

Full details of the bid can be seen on the Shropshire Council website, by clicking here.

The announcement from Secretary of State Norman Baker can be found on the DFT website by clicking here.