Active Travel funding welcomed

Rebecca Evans AM, Assembly Member for Gower, and West Cross Councillors Mark Child and Des Thomas have welcomed news that following last month’s announcement by the Welsh Government of £8.1m Active Travel funding, a further £700,000 has been awarded to local authorities for active travel schemes.
 
Swansea will benefit from £420,000 to improve road safety measures around schools and progress Swansea Urban Connections City centre schemes.

The funding will see footway/cycleway provision linking much of the school catchment located in the Mayals and West Cross area with the school campus. Bishopston Comprehensive and Bishopston, Knelston, Llanrhidian, Pennard, Crwys Primaries will all benefit from improvements to promote active travel.
 
Rebecca Evans AM said: “Wales received international acclaim and recognition for its world-leading Active Travel legislation for good reason. Walking or cycling gets the school day off to a great start, and as well as being good for the environment and a way of tackling traffic build-up, it can also help boost pupils’ concentration and attainment.
 
“Building physical activity into our everyday lives is an important part of our future if we are to improve the Country’s physical health and mental well-being.”

Cllr Mark Child said: “We face major challenges in securing our nation’s physical and mental well-being, both now and for our future generations. Increasing opportunities to safely walk and cycle is a key commitment for us, and these schemes offer a very straightforward way of achieving multiple benefits.”

Cllr Des Thomas said: “This investment presents a great opportunity to build physical activity into our everyday lives and this brings associated health improvements, a reduction in motorised traffic and decreases in air pollution, carbon emissions and congestion. These projects will also help people and communities feel safer and more connected.” 
 
Notes
 
Full allocation for Swansea below: 
 

• Llangyfelach Road to Cwm Level Road, SRIC Grant Scheme, £110,300 allocated to construct a plateau at the existing puffin crossing, provision of new puffin crossing, provision of a controlled crossing, 20 mph zone. Pentrehafod Comprehensive School, St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Brynhyfryd Primary School, Waun Wen Primary School.
• Gower, SRIC Grant Scheme, £108,000 allocated to a range of schools, footway/cycleway provision linking much of the school catchment located in the Mayals and West Cross area with the school campus, toucan crossing, speed reduction. Bishopston Comprehensive. Bishopston, Knelston, Llanrhidian, Pennard, Crwys Primaries.
• Swansea Urban Connections LTF Grant Scheme, £200,000 allocated for accelerated works of existing Swansea city centre schemes.