BCP COUNCIL is set to receive more than £3.7m in funding for active travel projects across the conurbation.

A total of £3.78m will be put towards five schemes in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole with the money coming from the government’s Active Travel Fund.

Some £1.3m will be allocated to continuing improvement works to the shared cycling and walking path through the Upper Gardens in Bournemouth.

This includes widening, resurfacing and new lighting for the path. A new crossing will be added to Branksome Wood Road to link the Upper Gardens to Coy Pond Gardens.

Bournemouth Echo:

Phase two of the Whitecliff and Baiter Park project will receive £1.1m, continuing the segregated footpath and cycle track around the waterfront.

Meanwhile, new crossings will be added to Labrador Drive and Furnell Road as a part of this initiative.

A combined total of £980,000 will be put towards cycling and walking infrastructure on Wallisdown Road.

Of this money, £500,000 has been given to phase three of the project, including the continuation of segregated cycle lanes south to Scott Road and upgrading the path across Turbary Park.

Bournemouth Echo:

The development of further plans for the remaining sections of the road without ‘adequate walking and cycling infrastructure’ will be allocated £480,000.

This includes a section around the Wallisdown Roundabout and the shops, and the section between University Roundabout and Boundary Roundabout.

A final £400,000 will be used to install permanent measures at four school streets locations in the conurbation.

This may include traffic calming measures designed in collaboration with the local community.

Bournemouth Echo: Children outside Oakdale Junior School after the School Streets initiative launched

Julian McLaughlin, director for infrastructure at BCP Council said: “This is a really positive grant award win and we’re delighted that our bid has been successful.

“It reflects our ongoing commitment to transform travel locally by investing in sustainable travel infrastructure, helping residents lead active and healthy lives and building a greener, healthier, better-connected future for our region.”

The council will be working with Active Travel England in implementing the initiatives, which must start as soon as possible and need to be completed by March 2025.

BCP Council has now received a total of £4.97m in active travel grants from the group.