Funding

The scheme has been assessed by Active Travel England (ATE), the body responsible for funding the scheme, and they have agreed to the plan and are willing to continue funding the project. 

The scheme will be Wokingham’s first high quality Active Travel Route designed using the principles of LTN 1/20 – “Cycle Infrastructure Design” guidance and will deliver a substantial section of the borough’s Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP). The route will contribute towards delivery of the Climate Emergency Action Plan and is in line with our vision for the borough to “keep the borough moving” and “enjoy a clean and green borough”.

It should be noted that the funding is ringfenced to Active Travel and specifically, this route. The only option other than completing the scheme is to return the funding to Active Travel England (including that already spent to date) and cancel the scheme. 

In response to concerns that the scheme is not value for money, we have submitted a business case to Active Travel England which they have assessed and approved. This takes into account the benefits to those who change their mode to cycling or walking in terms of physical and mental health as well the impact it has on improving air quality and reducing congestion. The scheme will benefit anyone who is able to walk, wheel or cycle if they choose to do so; these are highly accessibly forms of transport as, compared to car travel, it is far cheaper so those who are unable to afford to drive will benefit greatly.

If funding was returned to ATE there is likely to be a downgrading of the borough’s capability rating, which is currently 2. This capability rating is used in calculations for future grants, for instance recently Wokingham was awarded approximately double the amount of funding compared to our neighbours in Bracknell Forest and West Berkshire. 

DfT have indicated that future calculations for all “Integrated Transport Funding” (which is the grant provided to boroughs for delivery of their transport objectives) will include the capability rating and so it is important to us financially to maintain a high capability rating where possible.