CIVIC chiefs have agreed to forge ahead with £3.5million improvements to transport infrastructure across the conurbation.

Members of BCP Council's cabinet have approved the authority's Local Transport Plan 2021/22, which, officials say, includes improved bus facilities, road network improvements, street repair, road resurfacing and street lighting.

Cabinet signed off on £3.5 million worth of new work, to complement resurfacing work already made possible by BCP Council's £4million Challenge Fund grant which was secured from the Department for Transport last year.

Councillor Mike Greene, portfolio holder for transport and sustainability, said: "I am pleased to see the LTP investment planned for our highway network for 2021/22.

"This is one of a number of funding streams we are using to invest and improve how we all travel and as we emerge from the challenges of the pandemic, we want to harness the potential of our coastline of opportunity and make BCP a modern city region where people and businesses want to be. The quality of our travel network is central to this aim.

“The LTP capital programme will build upon the significant improvements to our local transport network that are already in progress – from making sustainable options such as walking, cycling and travelling by bus more appealing, to improving road surfaces and reducing congestion.

"I am particularly pleased that we have significant funding for travel safety measures and 25 per cent more for work on public transport alternatives to the car than last year.

"We have also allocated £50,000 to the Business Travel Network in recognition that travel and transport is not just an issue for the council in isolation.”

Some of the £3.5million will be used to finance the Wallisdown West corridor scheme, which includes plans for a series of pedestrian and cycling initiatives along the A3049.

A BCP Council spokesman also said the LTP capital spending is in addition to the council’s existing Transforming Travel initiatives, which represents around £41 million of investment in transport infrastructure over the next 12 months.

The council spokesman added: "Funded by the government’s Transforming Cities’ and Active Travel Funds, Transforming Travel aims to provide people with greener, healthier and better-connected travel choices."

The 2021/22 Local Capital Transport Plan Capital Programme is subject to approval from full council on March 23.