Campaigners have slammed Chancellor of the Exchequer Sajid Javid for failing to allocate dedicated funds to walking and cycling in yesterday’s Spending Round announcement.
Outlining government spending plans for 2020/21, the Chancellor announced £13.8 billion in funding for areas including policing, education and health, hailing the proposals as marking “the end of austerity” – leading to an accusation by his Labour counterpart, John McDonnell, of making “meaningless platitudes.”
The Department for Transport’s response to a recent report by a House of Commons select committee which called for more ambitious targets to be set for cycling and walking is expected in the coming days.
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The government itself has admitted that it will miss its target of doubling the number of journeys undertaken by bike by 2025, and despite the publication of its Cycling Walking & Investment Strategy in 2017, the money has not followed.
Responding to yesterday’s announcement, Xavier Brice, chief executive of the active travel charity Sustrans, said: “Whilst we welcome the announcement of an additional £30 million to tackle our pressing air quality crisis, we are disappointed with the lack of focus on walking and cycling in this Spending Round.
“Investing in walking and cycling to make them attractive, safe and convenient methods of transport for shorter journeys would reduce our reliance on cars and improve air quality in our towns and cities.
“This is especially important when parliament’s Science and Technology Committee recently reaffirmed the need for fewer not just cleaner vehicles if we are to meet the government’s own targets on climate change.”
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He added: “This Spending Round was an opportunity for the UK government to show exactly how committed they are to achieving their cycling and walking targets. The lack of investment suggests this is not a priority.”
Paul Tuohy, chief executive of Cycling UK, commented: “Today’s Spending Round was a squandered opportunity that showed the government’s lack of commitment to protecting the environment and public health.
“We’re facing a climate crisis, an air pollution crisis, a congestion crisis and an inactivity-related health crisis.
“Getting more people out of cars, particularly for short journeys, is part of the solution to all of these crises, but this won’t happen by magic and by simply setting targets to increase active travel, when what’s required is a major increase in investment.”
Separately, the Department for Transport has today announced funding for upgrades to 22 routes forming part of the National Cyycle Network – although the £20 million pledged is a drop in the ocean compared to what is needed to achieve the government’s own targets.