New data reveals how much local authorities are spending on walking and cycling in England

Photo by Gemma Evans on Unsplash

Cycling UK has released data revealing a variation in active travel spending by local authorities across England, ranging from £34 a year per head to just 20p in some areas, ahead of 143 councils in England holding elections today (Thurs 6 May 2021).

Not every local authority has responsibility for highways, and with that control of active travel spending, but to
date, 59 of those who do have provided full or partial information.

In 2020-21, the average spend across the councils that responded was £7.65 per head, of which £2.58 was from core funding. However, five local authorities (Kingston upon Thames, Salford, Waltham Forest, Stockport and Leicester City) spent or estimated spending more than £20 per head, while three (Redcar and Cleveland, Telford and Wrekin, and Hillingdon) reported figures of less than £1 per head.

Over the whole four-year period, four local authorities (Bradford, Bromley, Coventry and Hillingdon) reported spending none of their core funding on active travel, while only one (Sutton) said it had not received any grants.

Duncan Dollimore, Cycling UK’s head of campaigns, said: “What these figures show is that while some councils are doing a good job of investing in active travel schemes, both from their own funds and through seeking grants, other parts of the country risk being left behind. We need more equality in active travel, which is why our local election manifesto asks every local authority in England to move up the gears and invest more in cycling and walking.”

Read the full story in BikeBiz here.