MORE than £1 million has been awarded to BCP Council in the second phase of the government’s active travel fund.

The government confirmed the allocation on Friday with prime minister Boris Johnson saying there was a “strong appetite” for greener travel options.

BCP Council’s cabinet member for transport, councillor Mike Greene, said the grant “vindicated” the new Conservative administration’s “more balanced” approach to the scheme.

The government said polling last month showed almost two-thirds of people in England were in favour of reallocating road space for cycling and walking.

But at the same time, councils had been warned the amount of money they receive would be reduced should they not meet the set criteria.

It followed a backlash in many parts of the country, including in Bournemouth and Poole, over many of the measures introduced through the scheme.

Criticism over a “lack of consultation” for projects brought in under the first phase of the fund, in which the council was awarded £300,000, partly prompted the change in administration last month.

In response to a public backlash over many of the measures, the new Conservative administration scrapped some, although most will remain.

Cllr Greene said the council had been at risk of losing or having its allocation reduced based on how the process was managed by the Unity Alliance but that its approach had seen it awarded just over £1 million.

“We have demonstrated to government that we are prepared to look at things in a much more balanced and fair way than the previous administration,” he said.

“We will ensure the tranche 2 money is spent in a considered, balanced and fair way, with suitable consultation.”

He said he was “particularly keen” to see plans originally drawn up by the Unity Alliance coalition for new separate pedestrian and cycle paths through Whitecliff and Baiter parks.

The project was one of several identified in an indicative cabinet report published in August, the others included road closures in Christchurch town centre.

Detailed proposals for how the money will be spent will be drawn up in the coming weeks.