North Wales counties to benefit from £15m fund to create more space for travel under social distancing restrictions
All six North Wales counties are set to receive a slice of a £15m funding package to create more space for people to travel under social distancing restrictions.
Councils will get investment for schemes that widen pavements and create more room for cyclists and pedestrians.
The aim is to encourage people to ditch their cars after an increase in the numbers choosing to walk or cycle during the coronavirus lockdown.
The move is part of the Welsh Government’s new “Transforming Towns” scheme aimed at making it safer and easier for people to get around.
The funding will also be used to help buses move around towns easier to promote public transport when the restrictions are eased.
The successful initiatives in the region include:
- Plans to alleviate a pinch point on Conwy Bridge.
- Anglesey will be using the money for bus stop improvements and social distancing measures at main bus stops.
- Rhyl town centre will see the suspension of sections of on-street parking for safer walking and cycling, also providing traffic-free routes within the town.
Deputy Minister Lee Waters said: “During this lockdown we have seen a real change in people’s behaviours, with more and more of us choosing to walk and cycle for necessary journeys.
“When we have been able to get out of the house it has been great to enjoy the cleaner air and quieter streets.
“But it’s clear we’ve got to take action now to lock-in for the long-term many of those changed behaviours we have seen by making a positive choice to reallocate road space in our town centres and in our communities and to give it over to better active travel infrastructure.
“It was encouraging to receive more than 200 proposals and to see so much enthusiasm for the wider work the Welsh Government is doing to re-think our town centres and public squares for the future.
“We asked local authorities to prioritise those schemes which can be delivered within the next three to four months and which can have the greatest impact in their local area – hopefully making a real difference to how people see and get around their local area.
“Today is hopefully the start of our long-term project to enhance our town centres and public areas.”
Conwy has received the largest amount of funding at £1.6m, followed by Denbighshire with £981,000 and Gwynedd at £195,000.
Meanwhile, Wrexham has been allocated £163,600, Anglesey £143,500 and Flintshire £127,000.
The full list of projects can be seen by clicking here.
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