Oral Answers to Questions

Simon Fell Excerpts

Thursday 2nd July 2020 Commons Chamber

[Fleur Anderson (Putney) (Lab)]

What support the Government are providing to local authorities to promote active travel.

[Simon Fell (Barrow and Furness) (Con)]

What steps his Department is taking to increase levels of cycling and walking.

[James Daly (Bury North) (Con)]

What steps his Department is taking to increase levels of cycling and walking.

--- Later in debate ---

[Grant Shapps]

I congratulate the initiative on the roads, which is fantastic. My hon. Friend will know that I have announced £2 billion, and nearly £50 million of that has been made available to local authorities straightaway. I can also inform the House that a further tranche of money will be made available over the summer as well, along with the plans that she refers to.

[Simon Fell]

I thank my right hon. Friend for his commitment to cycling and his investment in it. In my constituency of Barrow, we have the opportunity now to create a safe cycle route from Walney Island all the way up the A590 to Ulverston across some abandoned railway bridges. Making that work means getting Network Rail, Highways England and our county council to pull together. What advice and support can he give me to make that happen?

[Grant Shapps]

It sounds like a terrific scheme, and my advice to my hon. Friend is to have the local authority work with all those other bodies, including Network Rail, Highways England and the county council. I will join him in pushing from my end to ensure that can happen.