Funding to support easier, cleaner transport choices

Brighton & Hove has won funding to directly support people in the east of the city to choose travel options that will improve air quality and reduce congestion.

The city council successfully bid for £485,000 from the government’s Sustainable Travel Transition Year Fund which will be spent on a sustainable transport project in the east of Brighton and Hove. People living, working and visiting he area will experience major change in the coming years with developments such as Circus Street and the redevelopment of the Royal Sussex County Hospital. 

The project, which will run until April 2017, aims to support the local economy by helping people travel in the area and remove some of the barriers that can prevent people from getting a job or accessing skills training.

By supporting people to choose alternatives to the car the project will reduce carbon emissions and encourage more active travel through walking and cycling.

Councillor Gill Mitchell, Lead Member for Environment, Transport & Sustainability said:  “This award is great news as it allows the council to continue its valuable work helping families, workers, students and visitors to choose travel options other than the car. This in turn reduces congestion, improves bus journey times and brings health benefits along with cleaner air.

“We will be working closely with local businesses, universities, schools and employment services to make this transport transition year a great success."

During the year the council’s travel team will be giving people the opportunity to have their own personal travel plans, helping businesses, schools and universities with travel planning for work and study, offering adult cycling and bike maintenance training, highlighting easy pedestrian routes and campaigning on road safety.

The Brighton & Hove Sustainable Travel Transition Year Project is being funded by the Department for Transport, with money ring-fenced for local sustainable transport projects.  The council successfully bid for the funding in a competitive process which was open to all transport authorities in England (excluding London).