A local MP has pressed Ministers on the future of pro-cycling schemes, dubbed ‘mini-Holland schemes, during a session of oral Parliamentary questions to the Department for Transport.
Steve Brine praised Winchester and Chandler’s Ford’s cycling projects, highlighting the Cycle Winchester mass ride earlier this month which saw over 250 cyclists ride around the city of Winchester in unison and, the Colden Common and Twyford school cycle bus which regularly rides from the southern villages to Kings’ and Westgate School.
The MP joined both group during conference recess and heard from those participating how the local community felt about cycling and saw first hand the need for dedicated cycle infrastructure in many areas of the constituency.
This lead to Mr Brine quizzing Ministers in the House of Commons asking; “We're excited by the mini-Holland schemes that are already invested in Hampshire and in a few weeks, I'll be taking a walk-around in the city to see the work that we've done investing in plans for that. So, could the Minister tell me whether the Government's committed to the Active Travel Fund and when the fourth traunch of applications to it will open?”
Lucy Frazer, the Transport Minister at the dispatch box, praised Steve Brine’s and Winchester’s commitment to active travel, highlighting previous exchanges on cycling in the House. The Minister went onto confirm that “announcements in relation to the fourth fund will be considered and made in due course.”
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