PARTS of a major programme to improve cycling, walking and bus routes are to be put on hold as the £102million budget can no longer cover the costs of the work.

BCP Council and Dorset Council were awarded £79million from the Department for Transport’s transforming cities fund (TCF) for the south east Dorset region.

This was topped up by around £23million from the councils, business groups and transport companies.

The investment was due to deliver 78 kilometres of new cycle and walking options and bus improvements across six “sustainable travel routes”.

Work has already started on part of all six routes, with various sections at 10 locations complete or under way.

However, it has now been confirmed to the Daily Echo the councils have tabled revised plans to the Government department with parts of the original programme deferred until more money can be found.

No details have been given on which schemes in the programme will be put on hold as a result of the funding issue.

The local authorities said escalating costs of construction materials and labour due to the pandemic, and rising fuel costs and inflation were factors in the finance problem.

Changes to the national design standards for cycling infrastructure had also had a “considerable” impact since the funding was awarded in March 2020.

Bournemouth Echo:

A spokesperson for south east Dorset’s transforming cities fund programme said: “These unforeseen financial increases, which are outside of BCP Council and Dorset Council’s control, mean the TCF budget is no longer sufficient to cover the full network of cycle, walking and bus improvements originally planned across the region.

“As part of a national TCF review by central government of all 12 city-regions who received TCF funding, we have submitted revised plans proposing the improvements that can continue to be constructed and funded through south east Dorset’s TCF and those that are proposed to be deferred until further funding has been secured.

“There is no confirmation at this stage as to which schemes will continue and which will be deferred. Through the review process, we are liaising with the DfT on our proposals, which are yet to be approved, and is why we are unable to share them at this time.

The spokesperson said the councils were “fully committed” to building a complete network of six sustainable travel routes and the fundamentals of the programme were not changing.

An update following the government review is expected in “the coming months”.

BH Active Travel, an independent resident group campaigning for safer walking and cycling infrastructure, said it was “disappointed” to learn of the deferral for some routes.

Chair Lucie Allen said: “The schemes take so long from consultation through to design and then implementation that further delays (due mainly to cost increases) are disheartening.”

Ms Allen said a lack of information on the delivery of the Barrack Road section of the Merley to Christchurch route was “especially frustrating”, with this one of the areas with “the most need for safe infrastructure”.

“With four schools in the vicinity, there is huge potential for children to cycle to school but the current road has no provision at all for active travel,” she said.

“That’s why BHAT volunteers, working with parents from Christchurch Infants and Junior Schools, founded a bike bus last year to chaperone children cycling to school. Cycling in a group is safer and our volunteers lead the ride and man the junctions to help the children and parents across safely.

Bournemouth Echo:

“We currently have to weave our way around the side roads, as Barrack Road is too dangerous, but these are often used as cut throughs by commuters who are driving too fast. We wouldn’t need the bike bus if there was a safe, segregated cycleway for these kids to cycle to school.”

Ms Allen said the group was pleased more stringent designed codes would be followed to ensure cycle and walking infrastructure is of a high and consistent standard.

She added: “We hope that BCP Council is successful in their bids for further funding to not only complete the TCF routes to a high standard but to also implement the cabinet approved Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP), which will, over time, join up these six major corridors.

“The Government has promised £3.7bn for active travel initiatives in England and we are confident and hopeful that BCP Council’s officers are working hard to ensure that our region is allocated the funding needed to complete these schemes.”