Funding to create ‘national network of active travel experts’

Local authorities are to receive a share of nearly £33m to create skilled active travel workforces, as part of efforts to ‘make places truly walkable and cyclable for everyone’. The funding, which comes from Active Travel England, could see up to 1,300 new green jobs created across England.

The Capability Fund will support local authorities across the country to train and retain local engineers and planners. The aim is to develop a workforce able to ‘collaborate effectively with local communities and conduct high-quality engagement and consultation sessions’.

The multi-million-pound investment will also deliver specialised training, ‘driving up skills and ensuring consistent, high-quality schemes can be delivered’.

Jesse Norman, active travel minister, said: “Leaving the car and walking and cycling instead is an easy way to get fit, save money and reduce your carbon footprint.

“Better designed schemes, which take into account the views of local people will help deliver improvements that have widespread local support. Skills training and local community engagement will help local authorities to make active travel an attractive choice for getting around.”