Welsh Government funding boost to help Mold Road ‘Active Travel’ plans

Walking and cycling routes across Wrexham are set to be improved thanks to a financial boost from the Welsh government.

The local authority will receive a share of £58 million to be used on active travel.

Since 2018, the Welsh Government has increased active travel funding from £15m to £70m – which they point out is now more than £22 for every person in Wales.

Deputy Climate Change Minister Lee Waters said that the fresh round of funding will see the construction of 37 new active travel routes and the detailed development of a further 22.

Locally the share of funding will be used for:

Deputy Minister Lee Waters said: “Walking and cycling provides a practical and vital response to help Wales meet its environmental and health targets.

“The Active Travel (Wales) Act puts pressure on us to deliver on high-quality active travel networks that encourage more and more people to regularly walk and cycle for journeys instead of using a car.

“Today’s funding is another substantial investment that will help us deliver ambitious plans across Wales that have all been designed to connect people with where they love and where they need to go.”

Additionally, as part of this pot all 22 local authorities will receive a minimum of £500k which can be used for future scheme developments and minor works such as new crossing points, promotional work and new cycle parking.

We asked Wrexham Council for a comment from the relevant lead members on the funding announcement and how it will benefit Wrexham.

However we did not receive a reply.

There is however some local-ish comment from up the road in Flintshire where Cabinet Member for Streetscene and the regional transport strategy, Councillor Dave Hughes said,

I am delighted to receive confirmation of Welsh Government’s further funding for two very important Safe Routes in Communities schemes which aim to improve accessibility within Holywell and Flint. With these proposals we aim to improve conditions for walking and cycling by reducing traffic speeds, improving pedestrian priority and widening footways. With the addition of green infrastructure these areas will provide an attractive and safe environment, encouraging more people to walk and cycle more frequently.

We assume Wrexham Councillors are as equally delighted and will the plans for the cash with public locally.

(Top pic – some renderings from a local consultation on Active Travel that involved Mold Road)