Team Locals

A £7m plan to help residents and visitors walk, cycle and use public transport in Portsmouth was given the green light today.

The Portsmouth City Council plan, designed to boost the economy, reduce congestion and help the environment, won approval from the government.

The plan is to improve links between The Hard area (including Gunwharf Quays and the Historic Dockyard), the city centre and Southsea.

The council plans to use the money to:

* install more signs and maps to help people move around by bike, on foot and by public transport
* improve cycle routes, with more cycle parking and cycle lanes, and central ‘hubs’, which could offer bike hire, parking, maintenance, lockers and advice
* make stations and major routes more attractive with improvements such as hanging baskets, flagpoles, planters and wider pavements
* change junctions to improve bus journey times and reliability, and help pedestrians and cyclists
* help set up a park-and-sail ferry service between Portsmouth International Port and Gunwharf
* employ guides at key points to advise visitors on getting around the city and its attractions
* advise residents on alternatives to driving when making short trips around the city
* work with major employers on how to encourage staff to travel more sustainably and reduce congestion

Portsmouth won the maximum £5m of funding from the Department for Transport after the DfT invited councils to bid for a pot of money for local sustainable transport schemes. The rest of the funding will come from the council, local businesses and public transport companies.

Cllr Jason Fazackarley, the council’s Cabinet Member for Traffic and Transportation, said: “It’s brilliant that the council has won this money from the government, enabling the plan to go ahead.

“This is a tremendous chance to reduce congestion, reduce transport costs for businesses, and improve the environment.

“The aim is to increase the attractiveness of Portsmouth as a retail and tourist destination, bringing more cash into our shops and attractions.

“These schemes will increase the attractiveness of Portsmouth as somewhere to live and work, and help attract highly-skilled employees and high-value businesses.”

Simon Moon, the council’s head of transport and environment, said: “This is all about regenerating our city, along with our plans to redevelop Tipner, improve the seafront and help bring around £1bn of investment into the city over the next 20 years.

“Our vision of Portsmouth as the great waterfront city means having the right transport. We need to reduce pressure on the road network, improve connections between key areas and be more sustainable.”