Mayoral Update on Active Travel Funding

Mayoral Update on Active Travel Funding

Statement by Dr Nik Johnson, Mayor of Cambridgeshire & Peterborough  

Following the announcement on Friday 30th July that stated further assurances were required from Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority in relation to Active Travel schemes supported by government funding, I wrote to the Minister for Transport Chris Heaton-Harris expressing my support and commitment to active travel measures across the entire Cambridgeshire & Peterborough region.  

I also offered to meet the Minister and the Head of Behaviour Change within the Cycling and walking team at the Department for Transport. I am pleased with the positive response confirming they will be in touch shortly to arrange that meeting –  but equally encouraged to hear that contact will be made within the next two weeks to confirm that all assurances have been met by the Combined Authority and our indicative funding allocation can be confirmed via a s31 grant letter. 

My 3Cs approach of Compassion, Cooperation and Community are the foundation of everything the Combined Authority will develop and deliver. This approach is driven by my passion as a practising children’s doctor with public health improvements key to my vision and ambition for transport, housing, skills, education, retail, leisure, and economic growth. 

The Active Travel funding is fundamental to enable stimulus toward real change and I very much support it. I have tasked officers to engage with community groups, cycling groups, District Councils, and our Highways Authorities to establish a Mayoral led Active Travel Forum, where collectively we can identify the areas of need and where schemes will generate the most value across the entire Cambridgeshire and Peterborough region. From this group I am seeking nominations for an independent Cycling Tsar for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to enable us to manage key issues locally. 

Should you be interested in being involved please contact initially via transport@cambridgeshirepeterborough-ca.gov.uk