Borough wins over £6m cash for roads and transport

5.35.37pm GMT Fri 7th Dec 2007

A major cash award of just over £6m for road and transport improvements across the borough was announced by the Mayor of London on November 15.

The sum is the second highest amount awarded to any London borough for 2008-09. The £6.1m allocation - Richmond's share of a £161m Government payout via Transport for London (TfL), has been hailed as "excellent news" by the borough's transport chief, Cllr David Trigg. Of the grant, £1.5m has been allocated for bus priority measures and a further £140,000 for bus stop accessibility schemes. A further £955,000 has been awarded for initiatives to encourage walking and cycling. In addition, £1.2m will be dedicated to principal road renewal of footways and carriageways, with benefits aimed at a number of local and town centres. The Richmond Town Centre scheme has been awarded a further £900,000. Road safety schemes will benefit to the tune of £1.2m to enable work to continue to further reduce the borough's already-low accident rate.

Cllr David Trigg, Cabinet Member for Traffic, Transport and Parking, said: "This is an excellent settlement, the second highest in London, and reflects our determination to bring sustainable transport solutions to the borough. We are committed to improving facilities for all road users and this settlement enables us to continue to deliver our transport priorities for residents and businesses and provide for safe and easy sustainable transport throughout the borough. Road safety remains a key priority with six major accident remedial schemes funded. These include the junctions of Staines Road with Sixth Cross Road; and High Street/Park Road in Hampton Hill. I am particularly pleased that we have received an increase of nearly 20 per cent for schemes that encourage walking and cycling. This money will allow us to improve towpaths, boost cycle training and further implement the London Cycle Network."