Increase in funding and greater freedom over spending for Bexley to renew roads, cut road deaths, improve town centres and cycling facilities, tackle the school run and carry out essential main road maintenance.

The Mayor of London Boris Johnson today announced £3m of funding from Transport for London (TfL) for Bexley to deliver local transport improvements during the financial year 2009/10.

As well as increasing next year's local transport funding from TfL - up to £168.3m from £161m in 2008/09 - the Mayor also confirmed that London's boroughs will have greater freedom in choosing local transport projects.

TfL has included £100,000 for the borough council to spend locally on transport as it chooses.

The £3m package will allow the borough to finance several schemes to improve local transport for residents including:

  • £515,000 for the renewal of Penhill Road (A221), Crayford High Street (A207/ A2000) and Gravel Hill (A220) / Bourne Road Roundabout. The carriageways and footways at these locations which are currently in poor condition will be renewed to correct any uneven surface, potholes and cracks. Pedestrians and vehicles will benefit from smooth, defect-free roads resulting in safer journeys in the boroughs
  • £150,000 to formalise walking routes and provide a direct link to Manor Road, Erith Town Centre and Slade Green Road including cycling facilities, footpath lighting, signs and CCTV coverage for improved security in certain areas. This funding will also provide signed signed walking routes from neighbouring areas: Howbury, Lessness Heath, North End/Colyers and Northumberland Heath
  • £100,000 to implement cross-borough measures identified in the TfL funded 2007/08 walking audit. Typical works will include improved footway surfaces, new and additional tactile paving, pedestrian ramps, crossing points and lighting where necessary. This is an ongoing multi-year funded scheme
  • £55,000 for cycle training and £25,000 for cycle parking improvements
  • £30,000 for the Sidcup Area Review. This will investigate the congestion problems have been highlighted with regard to the operation of the traffic signals on and around Sidcup High Street and is coupled with funding to improve road safety

Mayor of London, Boris Johnson said: 'When I was elected I promised I would be different and give greater freedom to the Boroughs.

'This is why this year I have introduced a £100,000 award for Boroughs to spend as they choose.

'Boroughs are being given greater freedom to develop and deliver the schemes they want, which means more choice over a range of key local schemes to improve town centres and cycling facilities, tackle the school run and improve local roads.'
 
'I am awarding Bexley a budget of £3m next year for local schemes that will make travelling safer, more accessible and more environment-friendly, helping to improve the quality of life for people across the borough.'

Funding for local transport schemes is allocated each year by TfL in response to the applications from boroughs based on their Local Implementation [transport] Plans (LIPs).

Funding is currently available for a wide range of programmes including road safety, maintaining borough roads, tackling the school run, improving walking, cycling and the local environment, making transport more accessible and measures to improve bus journeys

Notes to editors:

  • Below is a table with a breakdown of LIPfunding for Bexley:

     20mph zones  £20,000
     Bus Priority  £190,000
     Bus Stop Accessibility  £50,000
     Environment  £45,000
     London Cycling Network+ £252,00
     Accessibility  £70,000
     Local Safety Schemes  £975,000
     Cycling  £90,000
     Parallel Initiatives  
     Principal road renewal

     £760,000

     Regeneration  £150,000
     School Travel Plans  £115,000
     Travel Awareness  £5,000
     Walking  £130,000
     Work Travel Plans  £8,000
     Trial funding  £100,000
     TOTAL:  £2,960,000
  • Each London borough has a LIP approved by the Mayor containing proposals to implement the Mayor's Transport Strategy locally. While TfL allocates funding for individual schemes, LIP and individual project delivery is the responsibility of each borough
  • A School Travel Plan is a package of measures, tailored to the needs of individual schools to deliver alternative transport methods for the school run, aiming to reduce single occupancy car journeys to school, cut congestion and increase safety near schools
  • Priorities for Local Implementation Plans include:
    • Improving road safety
    • Encouraging walking and cycling
    • Improving bus journey times and reliability
    • Relieving traffic congestion and improving journey time reliability
    • Improving the working of parking and loading arrangements
    • Improving accessibility for all on the transport network
    • Bringing transport infrastructure into a state of good repair
    • School travel planning