Waterford Council did not spend a significant proportion of their annual Active Travel budget in 2021, according to figures released by the National Transport Authority.
Figures released by the NTA have revealed that Waterford City & County Council spent just over two thirds (€9,751,275) of the €13,886,500 allocated to them in 2021 for walking and cycling infrastructure - resulting in an underspend of €4,135,324 that year.
WLR News understands that the reasoning for this underspend is that the Active Travel team was only set up locally in July of last year.
Local Green Party Councillor Cristiona Kiely, says that all of the funding should have been used regardless of this.
“This money is for footpaths, pedestrian crossings, cycle lanes, bike repair stations, bike parking and all of the infrastructure needed to help people of all ages and abilities walk, cycle or wheel safely within our city, towns and villages. We need to do better for our communities. I know that the significant increase in funding since the Programme for Government was launched mid 2020 requires increased capacity and there have been many additional challenges for our local authority during Covid but we need to see faster progress. We now have a dedicated Active Travel office which was set up in July 2021 but the funding was allocated for the full year and should have been used.”
She says that in government, the Green Party have worked to increase the national budget for the scheme - and it is up to local authorities to put it to use where practical.
"Our roads and streets aren’t safe enough for us to cycle to work or to the shops or to allow our children to cycle to school or for activities. In Government, the Green Party has been working to turn this around by delivering unprecedented funding for Active Travel – jumping from €45m nationally in 2019 to €289m in 2022. This funding is allocated to local authorities such as Waterford City and County Council for spending on footpaths, safe routes to schools, lighting, cycle lanes and pedestrian crossings to make it easier for people of all ages and abilities to have more choices in how they get to work, school or activities. If the local authority doesn’t spend it, the projects aren’t delivered."
Cllr. Kiely highlighted that there has been improved road networks and safety enhancements in areas across the county which have all resulted from Active Travel funding. While there are more high-profile projects in the pipeline, she believes that all funds must be put into use for projects of all scales.
“We have all seen new footpaths and pedestrian crossings pop up in parts of the county where there was never a footpath. They’ve been built from this budget. We need more. We have a number of great walking and cycling projects on the way (Tramore-Waterford Greenway, the Tramore Ring Road, Waterford City Centre to SETU, the Sustainable Transport Bridge to name a few) but we need more of them too. We need extensive bike parking for bikes of all types, e-bike charging, bike repair stations and a shift in thinking which will make it easier for pedestrians, cyclists and all vulnerable road users to move around their communities safely."
The Green Party Councillor has called on the public to demand safer roads and footpaths in their local areas, and to ensure that the entirety of this year's €24m fund for Waterford is spent.
“€24million has been allocated to Waterford City & County in 2022. The money and the skills are there but we need faster delivery. I’m asking the public to call on your councillors of all parties and none to demand safer paths and cycleways outside your homes, your school, your place of work and throughout your community to help create a safer and more liveable community for us all. It’s long past time to put people and their safety first. We are living in the middle of a climate crisis and a cost of living crisis and there is so much potential to help people who want to walk and cycle more and reduce their carbon footprint. Everyone should be able to get out and about within their community while feeling safe with good lighting and safe crossings but people with disabilities, older people, children and other vulnerable road users don’t feel it is safe to do so. Let’s do better in 2022 and 2023 and call on Waterford City & County Council to get spending and make walking and cycling a priority”.
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