Borough Council is set to get a £140,224 cash injection from the Department for Transport (DfT) to support key initiatives

Over 2300 children are set to benefit from £74,166 from the Department for Transports (DfT) Bikeablity Trust.

The training will be delivered by the safety training company, Outspoken! and forms part of the Government’s national cycle initiative that aims to teach our kids how to stay safe when cycling near or on roads.  

Bikeablity training does more than teach our children how to deal with traffic and other hazards, it is also designed to get young children excited about cycling.

Councillor John Wheeler added,

“Many of us can remember how much fun it was cycling as a child.

Going to and from school, attempting wheelies and racing your friends was good fun but sometimes not always safe or responsible. Bikeablity aims to still give our children’s those memories we cherish but at the same time teach them when to be safe and responsible.

Additionally, every journey cycled will make a difference in the fight against climate change and gives our children the same opportunities and independence we had growing up.”

The Borough Council has also accepted an additional £66,058 from Active Travel England/Department for Transport to help develop an active travel scheme and provides support for one full time Active Travel Officer for one year.

Mayoral Candidate and Councillor Tom Wootton commented, “

The Bikeablity trust funding is wonderful news, as well as teaching children how to deal with traffic and other hazards these courses are designed to get young children excited about cycling.

The extra support for Active Travel is also welcome, it is a brilliant way of reducing our carbon footprint and this Government money and our local Councils involvement are so important in achieving this.”