Plans to ditch cars for walking and cycling set to miss targets

In a bid to reduce emissions and reach net zero by 2050, the Government has been pushing for active travel options like walking and cycling.

The Department for Transport wants active travel to be the natural choice for shorter journeys in England by 2040.

This would involve having less reliance on cars for short and medium journeys, with cycling, walking and public transport being promoted.

However, a new report from the National Audit Office has found that the Government is likely to miss these targets, despite investing heavily in the sector.

Between 2016 and 2025, the Department for Transport estimates that £6.6billion will be available for active travel interventions.

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The NAO reports that 56 percent of local authorities have low capability and ambition to deliver such active travel projects.

Gareth Davies, head of the NAO, said: “Active travel schemes have the potential to deliver significant health and environmental benefits. 

“However, DfT knows little about what has been achieved through its past spending and is not on track to achieve most of its objectives.

“DfT has raised its ambitions for active travel and recognised areas where its performance must improve. 

“Establishing Active Travel England is a good step; Active Travel England and DfT must now maintain this early positive momentum, by learning what works and applying it and building partnerships across central and local Government.”

The NAO is now recommending that the Department for Transport reviews its objectives for 2025 and beyond, as well as getting Active Travel England to set loftier, but achievable targets.

This would take into account existing progress and available funding and the benefits of the schemes are tracked to inform future planning.

The report also called on the Government and the DfT to work together to develop a “more stable funding environment”.

Councillor Linda Taylor, transport spokesperson for the Local Government Association, praised councils who have been at the forefront of active travel schemes.

Many local authorities are aligned with the Government’s goals of ensuring 50 percent of all journeys in English towns and cities are walked or cycled by 2030.

She added: “As this report rightly highlights, they can only continue to do this with long-term certainty for vital local projects that help to cut congestion and make our air cleaner.

“It is therefore disappointing that councils have seen an unexpected £200 million cut to their budgets for these projects and the Government should urgently restore this much-needed funding.

“This will allow councils to plan a pipeline of active travel infrastructure investments, engage more effectively with local communities and invest in necessary skills and capacity for their own staff.”