A number of transport schemes across the country have been told that they will receive funding from the government’s Local Sustainable Transport Fund. The allocations will be made to 39 projects which successfully bid to provide schemes which would introduce economic growth, while at the same time reducing the amount of carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere.

The investment package is worth £155 million and will go to projects that include promoting walking and cycling, improving bus and rail links and providing an infrastructure which will enable the use of electric vehicles.

Norman Baker, minister for transport, said he was pleased to be able to provide money to the projects. He added that all the schemes would combat the problem of climate change while building up local economies. Additional funding will be made available next year after another round of bids, he went on to say.

Ministers deciding which projects should receive the government funding have been helped by an independent panel of experts, including representatives from the Campaign for Better Transport and the British Chamber of Commerce. The panel said it was pleased to have received such high quality bids from local authorities, adding that it supported the government’s move to include experts from elsewhere in its decision-making process.

Campaign for Better Transport’s campaigns director Richard Hebditch said he was looking forward to the practical results of the funding provided by the Local Sustainable Transport Fund, and was positive it would make a real difference to the areas where the schemes are to be developed.