Wiltshire Council awarded £3.1m to invest in leisure

Wiltshire residents will enjoy safer and more accessible walking, wheeling, and cycling routes thanks to more than £3.1m in government funding.

Wiltshire Council has been awarded £3,169,878 over four years to improve active travel routes, as part of the Government’s integrated and consolidated transport settlements.

The funding will support the development of new and improved footpaths, cycle lanes, and junctions – making walking, wheeling and cycling a more appealing and safer choice for local communities. It will also support the planning of new cycling and walking networks, scheme design and training.

Cllr Martin Smith, Cabinet Member for Highways, said: “We’re pleased to receive this £3.1m over the next four years, which will enable us to strengthen active travel infrastructure across Wiltshire.

“However, we have more work to do to, and therefore I am working hard to improve our Active Travel England (ATE) rating so we can secure more funding over the coming years and invest in more cycling and walking routes.

“While we are still considering the specifics that the current funding will be spent on, we anticipate a mix of delivering new routes and planning future improvements.

“Better walking and cycling options will not only make sustainable travel easier but also reduce congestion in our towns and city, improve public health, reduce carbon emissions, and enhance air quality.

“This investment supports Our Wiltshire Plan commitment to ensure that roads and public spaces are accessible to all, in turn helping to build a greener Wiltshire where everyone can travel confidently and sustainably.”

To find out more about the funding, people should go to: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/capability-fund-local-transport-authority-allocations/active-travel-capability-fund-local-transport-authority-allocations-2025.