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Department for Transport agrees 30 per cent spending cut – to what extent will cycling suffer?

Ministers under pressure to prioritise road building and rail upgrade projects

Four government departments, including the Department for Transport (DfT) have agreed to spending cuts of eight per cent a year, reports the BBC. With road building and rail upgrade projects likely to be prioritised when five-year budgets are set out next month, just how much is cycling likely to suffer?

The Treasury and the Departments of Transport, Environment, and Communities and Local Government have all agreed cuts of 30 per cent over the next four years.

“A surplus will make our country more resilient, safe and secure,” said the Chancellor, George Osborne, in explaining the move. “It means that next time we have the money to help us through the tough times when the storms come.”

The full details of spending plans will be announced in the Spending Review on November 25, but we’ve already reported that ministers are under pressure to protect a £15.2bn programme to upgrade a hundred A roads and motorways as well as Network Rail’s £38.5bn upgrade plan. This is likely to have an impact on any funding for a Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy (CWIS), regardless of the fact that the government has now made a legal commitment to it.

Sam Jones from CTC, the national charity, points out that with Local Sustainable Transport funding ending in April, money for cycling suddenly seems rather thin on the ground.

“Funding for the CWIS may not even appear until the end of 2016. It is sadly unlikely that the level of funding will be anywhere close to the £10 a head annual figure which is the very least needed to introduce real results. This figure has been recognised by both the Prime Minister and Cycling Minister Robert Goodwill MP as the standard to aim for, but it very much appears to be rejected by the Chancellor.

“The delay and potential cuts to funding provision for the CWIS are further compounded by the end of Local Sustainable Transport Funding in April 2016. This means effectively that funding outside of London and the eight Cycling Cities will evaporate, and the UK will be back to the “stop start” cycle funding which is responsible for so many delays.

“It’s an unpleasant form of torture HM Treasury are inflicting on cycling: death by a thousand cuts. It means under the Chancellor, the Prime Minister’s “Cycling Revolution” is becoming “Cycling’s Dissolution.”

Last week, British Cycling’s #ChooseCycling Network – a group of major British businesses including GlaxoSmithKline, The AA, Sky, Virgin Trains and the National Grid – called on George Osborne to invest in cycling to create a healthier workforce and so boost productivity. In an open letter, they said that “a modest investment from government now will create jobs in the short term and deliver huge long-term benefits for society.”

Jones points out that in cutting funding for cycle infrastructure, the government is effectively reneging on its manifesto commitment to “reduce the number of cyclists and other road users killed or injured on our roads every year”.

CTC says it will call on its supporters to campaign against the planned course of action.

Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.

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10 comments

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Simon E | 8 years ago
2 likes

Huge council and government department cuts like this (Defra is in the same boat), the reduction of Inheritance Tax, the dismantling of the NHS etc etc... these are the very thing that many people voted for. Selfish bastards.

Most of us know this so-called 'austerity' is a way of making the poor(er) pay for the mistakes of the rich but not enough of us want to do anything about it. As predicted, it's like the nightmare of the Thatcher years all over again

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kitsunegari | 8 years ago
1 like

Disastrous results headed cyclings way.

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Danger Dicko | 8 years ago
1 like

They just don't seem to grasp the fact that if they improved cycling infrastructure in cities and large towns then they could reduce the budgets for roads in these cities and towns due to less vehicle use.

If you build more roads they stay just as full.

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mrmo replied to Danger Dicko | 8 years ago
0 likes

Stupid thing is this, drivers pay tax, lots of it, it looks good on the balance sheet. 

Health, well if you started to get people doing excercise today the financial gain won't appear for years. and when the only dates you care about are 5 years apart, WGAS. Same goes for road maintenance etc etc etc. 

 

Danger Dicko wrote:

They just don't seem to grasp the fact that if they improved cycling infrastructure in cities and large towns then they could reduce the budgets for roads in these cities and towns due to less vehicle use.

If you build more roads they stay just as full.

Avatar
Simon E replied to Danger Dicko | 8 years ago
1 like

Danger Dicko wrote:

They just don't seem to grasp the fact that if they improved cycling infrastructure in cities and large towns then they could reduce the budgets for roads in these cities and towns due to less vehicle use.

Why do you think they would want to do that? There is huge vested interest in building more roads, selling new cars, fuel, tyres etc etc. and the false sense of financial gain involved.

This government is not (and has never been) interested in the health, welfare or happiness of the general population.

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Simmo72 | 8 years ago
4 likes

There is nothing safe and secure about face planting tarmac after hitting yet another massive pothole.

So bascially another lie from this bunch of bunch of muppets.  

I'm supprised he hasn't added a bike tax yet, anything to avoid his mates in the city having to actual pay out something.

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ianrobo replied to Simmo72 | 8 years ago
1 like

Simmo72 wrote:

There is nothing safe and secure about face planting tarmac after hitting yet another massive pothole.

and this is where the budgets will be cut locally and nationally. Dont forget the local councils budgets will be hit just as hard so I wonder what the insurance payouts will be like ?

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brooksby | 8 years ago
0 likes

"So this is called a - sorry, a 'buy sickle'?  Is that something to do with gardening?"

"..."

"Oh, it's a type of transport!  Oh, all right.  So a bit like a car, you mean?"

30 per cent funding cuts over the next four years but ministers are under pressure to protect a £15.2bn programme to upgrade a hundred A roads and motorways as well as Network Rail’s £38.5bn upgrade plan. Well, gosh, I wonder where the axe will fall?

 

 

Avatar
antigee | 8 years ago
1 like

serious issue but hard to resist

 

 

 

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antigee | 8 years ago
0 likes

check the pic' Osbourne's left hand is on the brake !

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