Wrexham Council get £163k for six projects that were part of £3m wishlist

The Deputy Leader of Wrexham Council has said he is ‘disappointed’ at a funding announcement from Welsh Government on Friday.

The Deputy Minister for Economy and Transport announced the first tranche of funding of £15.4 million to local authorities for sustainable transport measures in response to Covid-19. The move is part of the Welsh Government’s new ‘Transforming Towns’ approach by making it safer and easier for people to get around their local towns.

Lee Waters MS, Deputy Minister for Economy and Transport said,

I am allocating funding of £15.4m to local authorities to introduce measures to improve the safety and conditions for sustainable and active travel modes in their area in response to the Covid-19 crisis and to achieve sustained changes in travel behaviour in the future.

We received a total of 209 proposals for measures from all local authorities in response to the invitation for expressions of interest. This clearly demonstrates the need, and willingness of local authorities, to introduce measures to protect public health and safety and to enable people to choose the healthiest and most sustainable transport modes for shorter journeys now and in the future. During the lockdown period there were large increases in walking and cycling among individuals and families, both for exercise and to make necessary journeys. We now need to act to maintain these healthy and climate friendly travel behaviours and prevent a return to heavily car-dependent travel choices.

Wrexham’s allocation is detailed on the notice PDF  (section copied below) which has similar headings to 16 items listed on a recent £3m active travel grant bid.

The Wrexham allocations have WCBC and then a number, with the items on the allocation list matching where they each appear on the list previously published. The £3m bid information listed the following submitted projects:

1– Introduction of shared cycleway/footpath extension at B5605, Ruabon
2– Footpath improvement scheme on B5430 Talwrn Road
3– Review urban dual carriageway B5605 Ruabon
4– Social distance road markings at School Crossing Patrol sites
5– Restoration of older established footways and cycle paths
6– Public footpath upgrade to cycle path
7– Review of on-street parking and pedestrian zones
8– Footpath widening specifically on strategic routes
9– Speed limit review on County highways (not A & B category roads).
10– Introduction of 20 mph zones in urbanised areas
11– Social distancing signage in town centre and at other identified attractions in outlying villages
12– Cycle shelter provision at schools
13– Secure cycle storage facilities at County Borough rail stations
14– Bus layby in-fill and buildouts
15– Wrexham Bus Station public health & passenger safety improvements
16– Public transport infrastructure improved hygiene measures

We asked Wrexham Council for comment on the award, and if Welsh Government had declined to fund anything specific to the town centre pandemic response.

Cllr David A Bithell Lead Member Environment and Transport said,

“Although disappointed we did not get more funding for some of our projects which would have supported behavioural change across the county.

We are of course grateful for £163k which will help and assist in these difficult times.

Elsewhere Denbighshire are getting nearly £1m to help with a range of items, including suspension of sections of on-street parking in Llangollen town centre.

For those locally with a keen interest in Flintshire, they had £127k for five schemes including provision of ‘Social Distancing’ stickers.

Four authorities had seven figure awards, and 21 of the 22 local authorities in Wales were awarded money from the fund – with Neath Port Talbot getting £0.

Lee Waters MS went on to indicate more funds would be made available,

In collaboration with the Deputy Minister for Housing and Local Government, it is our intention to follow up this first tranche and make further funding available where it is needed. We will work proactively with local authorities to develop further, ambitious interventions as part of the Transforming Towns programme.

Deputy Minister for Housing and Local Government Hannah Blythyn MS said:

“As we plan to reopen our public spaces and town centres, we have a unique opportunity to re-think and to re-design the way they operate for the future. This investment in active travel along with the new guidance can help to inject new energy into our town centres by making them safer and more attractive places for people to visit and get around, so increasing footfall and trade for business.

“This guidance will help those responsible for public spaces think creatively about not just re-opening them after Covid, but to think about the long-term and to make them more user-friendly and sustainable for the future as part of our ‘Transforming Towns’ approach.

“There is no denying the pandemic has been a difficult time for businesses but it has also given us an opportunity to re-imagine how we design busy areas. I hope the changes made will enhance the public realm and experience of our high streets and public spaces – part of our long-term plan to transform towns in Wales. To ensure they don’t just survive but that they thrive long into the future.”

You can read the full allocation of the funding in this document on the Welsh Government website.

Top picture, a cycle lane on Mold Road.