£2.4 MILLION FUNDING FOR FIFE COUNCIL ACTIVE TRAVEL PROJECTS

Published date : 28 Jul 2020

MSP for Mid Fife and Glenrothes, Jenny Gilruth, has said the announcement of £2.4 million for Fife Council will help normalise the increasing number of people walking or cycling in the local area.

In partnership with Sustrans Scotland, the SNP Government has now awarded nearly £30 million to pop-up infrastructure projects across the country to encourage temporary active travel routes that enable physical distancing during lockdown.

The fund aims to support a rapid increase in active travel rates in recent months and encourage more Scots to continue walking, wheeling or cycling in the future – which in turn helps to manage demand on our public transport network.

Following the announcement of a £2.4 million funding package, the MSP has been directly liaising with Fife Council to seek information on proposed safer spaces for Fifers during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

Commenting after the announcement, Jenny Gilruth MSP said:

“I am absolutely delighted that uptake of this £30 million has been so high. This is a huge cash boost for Fife Council, and I hope it will help encourage local people get out cycling or walking for their everyday journeys.

“This initiative is exactly the kind of progressive approach we need if we want to see more sustainable forms of travel here in Fife. Glenrothes and surrounding areas have a number of great cycle paths and walkways that could be made greater with some additional investment.

“I have been in direct contact with Fife Council on their plans to put this funding to good use so that we can create a more active community and ensure that more people are cycling or walking than ever before, and I will continue to push the council for more investment in our spaces for people going forward.”

John Lauder, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Sustrans and Executive Director for Scotland said:

“Giving people safe space in which to physically distance while they get about their day by walking, wheeling and cycling is vitally important as we look to normalise the increasing rate of people travelling actively.

“The fast pace of delivery and the quick uptake by local authorities and other statutory bodies in utilising the Spaces for People funding is testament to the appetite in Scotland to make walking, wheeling and cycling as safe as possible.”

ENDS

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