Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole will receive £1.1 million from a new government funding package to improve local transport.
The allocation comes from a £104 million Local Transport Grant announced by the Department for Transport. The money is part of the government’s wider £2.3 billion Plan for Change, designed to strengthen connections, support growth and improve access to jobs and services across England.
The funding will allow BCP Council to invest in transport priorities identified locally. Projects could include the introduction of zero emission buses, tackling congestion on key routes, improved lighting in public areas and safer crossings for pedestrians and cyclists.
Dorset has also been allocated over a million pounds from the same fund.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “Good transport connections are the foundation of thriving communities, which is why we’re backing local authorities to transform journeys for millions of people across England. This investment will help councils to improve transport for local people – from cleaner buses to safer cycling routes – connecting communities with jobs, education and essential services.”
Business groups and transport campaigners have welcomed the announcement. Jane Gratton from the British Chambers of Commerce said the funding would improve access to jobs and better connect businesses with customers and suppliers. Ben Plowden, Chief Executive of Campaign for Better Transport, added that the money would be especially valuable in towns and rural areas, where poor connections can cut people off from services and opportunities.
The government said the resource boost would allow councils such as BCP to develop detailed plans for schemes that have the greatest local impact, while also ensuring they have the capacity to deliver them.
The £1.1 million for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole is part of a wider effort to make daily journeys smoother, more reliable and more sustainable, while also encouraging economic growth in the region.
