This in from the council, in their own words. Ed
Known as LSTF2, the council has secured just under £1 million of investment from the Department for Transport, with the projects getting underway from April this year and up to March 2016.
The projects are all aimed at delivering a range of sustainable transport opportunities for residents and visitors, supporting the local economy and reducing carbon emissions.
Full details of projects will be announced in due course, but they include electric vehicle initiatives, working with schools, supporting the ‘Bicycle Island’ brand, local events, providing adult bicycle training and improving workplace bus links.
Partnerships
The council is working closely with Visit Isle of Wight and the Chamber of Commerce to deliver the projects, which will also involve Southern Vectis, the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service and Community Action IW.
Councillor Luisa Hillard, Executive member with responsibility for sustainability, said:
“This is the second grant under the LSTF project that the council has successfully secured, having been awarded nearly £4 million in 2012. That funding has been used on a variety of green schemes such as improving shared use path facilities across the Island and installing bicycle-friendly storage on public buses.
“This new LSTF revenue funding will be used on an exciting range of projects, all of which will be aimed at getting people to leave their cars at home. We are working closely with our partners to deliver the schemes which will help to promote sustainable travel for residents and visitors alike.”
Attracting extra visitors
David Thornton of Visit Isle of Wight added:
“The LSTF2 investment allows us to create additional marketing campaigns and events that will attract extra visitors to the Island whilst fostering a spirit of sustainable thinking by those visitors and the local residents they meet here.
“We believe that LSTF2 helps us to combat competition from other destinations through initiatives like “Bicycle Island” and the new Travel Ambassadors service currently being planned for the summer.”
Nationally, the Department for Transport says it has made £600 million available under the LSTF scheme since 2012 to improve sustainable transport schemes.
