Increase in funding and greater freedom over spending for Lambeth to 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 £4.3m of funding from Transport for London (TfL) for Lambeth 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 £4.3m package will allow the borough to finance several schemes to improve local transport for residents including:

  • £435,000 road renewal works on Lambeth Road to repair any uneven surfaces, potholes and cracks. Pedestrians and vehicles will benefit from smooth, defect-free roads resulting in safer journeys in the boroughs
  • £200,000 to transform Wilcox Road into a community hub and key walking route. This will reverse the existing neglect of the street through a series of measures including new lighting, new paving and trees. This transformation will create a safer environment for residents, pedestrians and other users
  • £170,000 for cycle training
  • £185,000 to support the West Brixton 20mph zone. Work will include self-enforcing measures (mini roundabouts or priority changes). This scheme is to improve road safety and achieve a reduction in collisions
  • £10,000 to help fund the installation of four Electrical Recharging Points in the borough. They will provide an alternative energy source which aims to improve local air quality for businesses, residents, visitors and fleet operators by assisting in reducing CO2 emissions

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 Lambeth a budget of £4.3m 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 Local Implementation Plan funding for Lambeth:

 20mph zones  365k
 Bus Priority  185k
 Bus Stop Accessibility  50k
 Controlled Parking  50k
 Education, Training, Publicity  80k
 Environment  10k
 London Cycling Network  300k
 Accessibility  40k
 Local Safety Schemes  923k
 Cycling  260k
 Principal road renewal  435k
 School Travel Plans  388k
 Streets For People  700k
 Travel Awareness  45k
 Walking  350k
 Work Travel Plans  10k
 Trial funding  100k
 TOTAL:  4,291k

  • Each London borough has a Local Implementation Plan (LIP) approved by the Mayor containing proposals to implement the Mayor's Transport Strategy locally.  While Transport for London (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
    • Funding can be broken down by LIP programmes as above once final allocations have been approved
    • Electrical Charging points: £390k has been allocated to 12 Boroughs to install a further 70 points across London. The cost of a charging point is £7k
    • The first on street vehicle charging point in London was implemented in August 2006 in Covent Garden followed by an individual 28 points in 8 Boroughs in 2007 /2008. More information on location of charging points can be found on the newride website