£13.5 million to improve transport in Warwickshire
People using the transport network in Warwickshire are set to enjoy easier and safer journeys following a Government settlement of £13.5 million.
The Government announced in its annual settlement letter to the Warwickshire County Council an allocation of £13.445 million to be spent on capital transport schemes.
The money is intended for roads, public transport, casualty reduction schemes, and better facilities for pedestrians and cyclists in the county during 2006/07. This is slightly higher than the 2005/06 settlements of £12.557 million.
A little over £9 million has been allocated for road and bridge maintenance and almost £4.4 million has been allocated for integrated transport measures, which include public transport, walking, cycling, safer routes to school, casualty reduction projects and traffic management schemes.
The money will be used to deliver the projects in Warwickshire County Council’s five year Local Transport Plan (LTP).
An allocation of £2.271 million has also been awarded to the county council for the A429 Barford Bypass, which is currently under construction. This forms part of an overall funding commitment of over £9 million from the Government towards the scheme.
A decision on funding for Coleshill Parkway Railway Station and Rugby Western Relief Road will be made early in 2006, as part of the regional prioritisation of Major Schemes in the West Midlands. A decision on funding for the third phase of the Nuneaton Development Project has also been promised shortly by the Government.
In April 2006, the county council will begin implementing its second LTP, which will run for the next five years until 2010/11. This is now in a provisional format.
The settlement letter from Government has assessed the provisional LTP as ‘promising’, and highlights a number of strengths in the plan. The final plan is due to be submitted to Government by the end of March 2006.
Roger Newham, Head of the Transport Planning Unit, said: “This money is great news for Warwickshire and is recognition from the Government that Warwickshire County Council have successfully delivered on our projects over the last five years, and that our new LTP is moving in the right direction.”
County Councillor Martin Heatley, Portfolio Holder for the Environment, said: “We welcome this settlement which acknowledges our success in delivering a large and diverse programme of work and will enable us to continue improving transport infrastructure for the people of Warwickshire.”