A £4.5 Billion Opportunity: What the Government’s New Active Travel Plan Means for the Wharfedale Greenway
If you’ve been following our campaign to connect our communities with a safe, traffic-free route, today brings some incredibly exciting news.
The government has just announced a landmark £4.5 billion investment over the next five years to fuel a nationwide walking and cycling boom. Through Active Travel England’s new “Worth Every Step” delivery plan, the aim is to build 5,000 new routes and 10,000 safer crossings by 2030.
For the Friends of Wharfedale Greenway, this isn’t just a national headline—it is exactly the kind of financial backing our project needs to become a reality. Here is why this new strategy perfectly aligns with our vision for Wharfedale, and how it could help us finally get spades in the ground.
Unlocking the Wharfedale Greenway
The government’s primary target is for 55% of all short urban and local journeys to be walked, wheeled, or cycled by 2035.
We know that many people in our local towns and villages would love to leave the car at home for short trips, but the current road network—especially the busy A65 corridor—simply doesn’t feel safe enough. The Wharfedale Greenway is designed to solve exactly this problem. This new £4.5 billion funding pot is explicitly earmarked for high-quality, segregated routes that connect communities, which is precisely what we have been campaigning to build.
Safer School Runs for Our Kids
One of the most encouraging targets in the new strategy is getting 60% of children aged 5 to 16 travelling actively to school.
Imagine our children being able to cycle or walk to local schools safely, away from heavy traffic and exhaust fumes. Not only does this ease the morning school run congestion that plagues our local roads, but it also builds healthy habits early in life. The Wharfedale Greenway would provide that vital, safe artery for our younger residents.
Financial and Health Benefits for Our Community
The wider benefits highlighted in the government’s plan are hard to ignore. Active Travel England estimates that if a family can safely give up a second car in favour of walking or cycling, they could save an average of £1,700 per year.
Beyond household savings, getting more people moving will take the pressure off local healthcare services. The strategy projects that making active travel the default will free up 1.7 million GP appointments annually across the country.
What’s Next for Wharfedale?
As National Active Travel Commissioner Chris Boardman noted, “When streets work for people, everything else follows.”
With this unprecedented level of funding becoming available, the time to push forward is now. We will be working hard to ensure that our local leaders and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) recognise the Wharfedale Greenway as a prime candidate for this investment.
How you can help: The stronger our community voice, the better our chances of securing this funding. Please talk with your councillors, MP’s, and let’s show the decision-makers that Wharfedale is ready for its Greenway!
Want to stay updated?
For more updates on the Wharfedale Greenway, our next event and how you can get involved, visit the Friends of Wharfedale Greenway website.
What can you do?
Supporting Friends of Wharfedale Greenway is easy and impactful!
Follow us on social media: By following us on social media, liking our posts, and sharing our content, you help spread awareness and build momentum for our community-driven initiative. Every share brings us closer to expanding active travel opportunities and improving local infrastructure. Our social media channels are below.
Donate to our group: While we’re not funding the physical construction of the Greenway, your donation, however small, will help us cover our essential costs, from advocacy efforts to community events and outreach. Find out how you can donate to FoWG.
Sign up to our mailing list: By signing up for our news updates, you’ll stay informed about our latest progress, upcoming events, and ways to get involved.
Join us in shaping a greener, more connected future – your engagement makes all the difference!