Councils which rip out cycle lanes or low-traffic neighbourhoods earlier than giving them an opportunity to work or with out proof they’re failing may lose future central authorities funding, ministers have warned.
In an indication of the rising frustration inside authorities at some councils, each Conservative and Labour, which have eliminated lively journey schemes within the face of generally noisy objections, transport minister Chris Heaton-Harris is formally writing to the leaders of all English native authorities with transport tasks.
In separate feedback, Boris Johnson warned councils that he was critical about boosting lively journey, saying that “making an attempt to squeeze extra automobiles and supply vans on the identical roads and hoping for the very best just isn’t going to work”.
“I help councils, of all events, which try to advertise biking and bus use,” the prime minister mentioned. “And if you’re going to oppose these schemes, it’s essential to inform us what your various is.”
Heaton-Harris’s letter, being despatched on Friday, warns councils that if schemes put in utilizing central authorities cash, reminiscent of funds supplied to spice up strolling and biking throughout Covid, are then swiftly deserted, this might have an effect on future grants.
“Untimely elimination of schemes carries implications for the administration of the general public cash utilized in these schemes and for the federal government’s future funding relationship with the authorities accountable,” wrote Heaton-Harris.
“The division will proceed to evaluate authorities’ efficiency in delivering schemes and, following the precedent we now have already set, these which have prematurely eliminated or weakened such schemes ought to count on to obtain a decreased degree of funding.”
Beneath the federal government’s emergency lively journey fund, councils put in a whole bunch of cycle lanes, college streets and low-traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs), which search to filter residential streets in opposition to through-traffic by motor automobiles.
Nevertheless, amid usually noisy objections from some residents, plus repeatedly adverse media protection of such interventions, a sequence of councils have eliminated schemes at quick discover.
Conservative-run West Sussex council has already been advised it can not apply for the subsequent part of lively journey funding after it eliminated a cycle lane in Shoreham-by-Sea. Related lanes have been taken out by Labour-led Liverpool council, and by an alliance of Labour and Tory members in Brighton.
Some councils have additionally eliminated LTNs, such as Ealing in west London, though the funding for this got here from Transport for London relatively than central authorities.
Within the letter, Heaton-Harris warns council leaders to verify any choices are made on the premise of proof: “We now have no real interest in requiring councils to maintain schemes that are confirmed to not work, however that proof should be introduced. Schemes should not be eliminated prematurely, or with out correct proof and too quickly to gather correct proof about their results.”
It comes as newly launched government-commissioned polling confirmed obvious robust public help for LTNs, and for wider site visitors discount measures.
The analysis, carried out in Birmingham, Ipswich, Bournemouth and Salford, confirmed 61% of individuals supported their native LTN, together with 58% of enterprise homeowners and 49% of these with mobility challenges.
Extra typically, 79% of individuals backed the discount of site visitors of their native space, with 71% help for respondents with mobility challenges.
In his feedback, Johnson immediately tackled the cost from opponents of LTNs and comparable schemes that they merely transfer site visitors to different roads, saying: “In fact some journeys by automobile are important, however site visitors just isn’t a pressure of nature. It’s a product of individuals’s decisions. For those who make it simpler and safer to stroll and cycle, extra individuals select to stroll and cycle as an alternative of driving, and the site visitors falls total.”
The letter and Johnson’s assertion emphasise the obvious coverage distinction divide over lively journey between some councils and the extra optimistic view inside Downing Avenue and the Division for Transport.
Duncan Dollimore, head of campaigns for Biking UK, mentioned the organisation had been arguing for months that councils ought to give schemes sufficient time to work.
He mentioned: “It’s tragic that the Division for Transport has needed to problem revised steering to strengthen this apparent level, and councils in Liverpool, Brighton and elsewhere, who’ve determined in latest days to take away cycle lanes with out correct analysis, must urgently assessment these plans.”
