£15m Healthy Streets fund for local road safety schemes in every ward

Birmingham's wards are set to share just over £15m for local road safety and active travel schemes, the largest amount ever allocated to ward-level transport projects in the city.

The new Healthy Streets Ward Fund is part of a refreshed six-year Transport and Highways Delivery Programme, which went to the council's cabinet on 8 September.

What the programme covers

The programme sets out the council's transport investment priorities, including:

• making roads safer;
• improving public transport;
• better routes for walking, wheeling and cycling; and
• helping children make safe and healthy journeys to school.

It supports the Birmingham Transport Plan, which is built on the idea that a prosperous, inclusive and healthy city needs to rely less on private cars and change the way people and goods move around.

Most of the money comes from central government through the regional combined authority, topped up by surplus revenue from the Clean Air Zone and from bus lane enforcement.

Councillors to steer local spending

The Healthy Streets Ward Fund will support local delivery of the council's Road Harm Reduction Strategy, with ward councillors playing a key role in deciding how and where the money is spent in their areas.

"Too many people don't feel safe walking or cycling for local trips and investing in the right improvements is vital," said Councillor Rob Grant, Cabinet Member for Transport.

He said the programme included neighbourhood schemes, bus priority measures, safe cycling infrastructure and extra enforcement against dangerous driving. He also highlighted the third of Birmingham households that do not have a car, saying they should have access to a wide range of opportunities, and that transport's impact on carbon emissions and air quality had to be addressed.