MP slams Government decision to cut cycling budget

An MP in one of the cities that is seeing funding for cycling reduced by 20 per cent because of the Government’s cuts has slammed the decision.

Cambridge was one of eight cities that were promised a share of £114m as part of the Cycling Ambition Cities in March by then deputy prime minister Nick Clegg.

But the Conservatives, free from coalition with the Liberal Democrats, announced last week that the pot of money to improve cycling would be reduced to £91m – a £23m saving.

The news was met with dismay across the country – Guardian columnist Owen Jones claiming that the money’s withdrawal would actually cost the government more money in the long term – and Cambridge’s newly-elected Labour MP is equally unimpressed.

>>> Conservatives withdraw £23million promised spending for cycling

Daniel Zeichner accused the Tories of having “no interest in the cycling revolution taking place across our country”, adding that he would “urge them to think again on their plans”.

He added: “Cycling funding is too important to be an election gimmick.

“Cambridge will now receive 20 per cent less than originally promised over the election campaign for its cycling infrastructure, at exactly the time when we should be investing in sustainable, active and affordable travel for people across the city.”

Former MP for the city, Lib Dem Julian Huppert, said that his party led the way in pushing the cycling agenda.

“We had a cross-party recommendation called Get Britain Cycling which called for £10 per head, rising to £20,” he said. “That’s the sort of money you need as a bare minimum to see the benefits you can get.”

The other seven cities are Bristol, Newcastle, Norwich, Oxford, Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham.

Source: Cambridge News