Latest news with #TransformingCitiesFund
Yahoo
01-08-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Council has £2million budget to spend after bus gate scrapped
Council bosses are weighing up how to invest £2million in transport improvements after the scrapping of the controversial Portswood bus gate. Most of the projects in the Southampton city region's £68.5million Transforming Cities Fund (TCF) programme have been done. This includes the park and ride facility currently used by University Hospital Southampton staff, the Albion Place bus hub and Arundel Gardens pocket park. The city council is yet to progress the project for a new bus lane on the A33 Western Approach and there is money outstanding from the Portswood bus gate, which was axed less than four months into the trial. Cabinet member for transport Cllr Christie Lambert said the local authority was 'committed' to completing works on all the TCF areas but in a 'modified form'. The programme revolved around investment in the city centre and four transport corridors – Southampton to Waterside/Totton, Southampton to Chandler's Ford, Southampton to Eastleigh and Southampton to Bursledon. 'For the A33 Western Approach bus lane, we are considering the next steps following the traffic regulation order consultation that took place in November 2024,' Cllr Lambert said. 'Following the pause in the Portswood project trial earlier this year, we are currently looking at different ways that we can still enhance the Eastleigh to Portswood corridor, where there is a remaining budget of approximately £2million and details of how this budget will be spent will be considered over the remainder of this financial year, ensuring expenditure is in line with the goals of TCF and with improvements which will also appeal to local people.' In December 2020, the Southampton city region was awarded £57million of government TCF funding to support sustainable and active travel across Southampton and surround parts of Hampshire. This allocation was supported by £11.5million of local match funding from Hampshire County Council, Southampton City Council and local partners. Initially, the programme was to deliver schemes by March 2023 before this was later extended by two years. However, the Local Democracy Reporting Service understands there is no set deadline by which the funding must be spent by the council.
BBC News
05-06-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Speeding tickets up 36,000% on Bournemouth road after limit change
The number of speeding tickets issued to motorists on a major Dorset route went up by 36,131% in the first full year since the limit was reduced from 40mph to 30mph. Responding to a Freedom of Information request, the county's road safety team revealed that the camera on the A348 Ringwood Road in Bournemouth resulted in 11,594 fines in 2024. This was after Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council changed the speed limit in May 2023 following a public comparison, 32 offences were issued in 2022 and 55 in 2021. The council said it did not receive any income from fines and that the speed limit change had formed part of travel improvements from Poole town centre to Ferndown and camera is located northbound opposite Turbary Retail Park. The FOI also revealed that more than 3,000 speeding tickets had been issued to motorists caught exceeding the limit so far this year. 'Busy dual carriageway' It showed that a total of 14,774 were issued from 2020 until now. The figures do not include cancelled Herrett, portfolio holder for destination, leisure and commercial operations at BCP Council, said: "The speed limit reduction on Ringwood Road formed part of BCP Council and Dorset Council's Transforming Cities Fund sustainable travel improvements from Poole town centre to Ferndown and Wimborne."We also recently installed a new toucan crossing on Ringwood Road to encourage more people to visit the nearby retail park on foot more safely and help lower congestion."Mr Herrett added that the measures "have made this busy dual carriageway safer and more pleasant for all road users" following on from fatalities in 2018 and 2019. You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Grant scheme aims to increase city's café culture
Money is being offered to businesses in Bradford in a bid to increase café culture in the city. Bradford Council is running a pilot scheme to help pay for outdoor furniture and equipment, with the aim of adding "vibrancy to the street scene". Applicants can apply for grants of up to £3,000 to buy items such as tables, chairs, planters and lighting as well covering the costs of installation. The scheme is currently only available to businesses on those roads "most impacted" by the recent £48m Transforming Cities Fund works, the council said. Alex Ross-Shaw, the council's executive member for regeneration, planning and transport said: "We welcome applications from businesses to introduce outdoor seating which will take advantage of the wonderful new pedestrianised areas. "Our team have been visiting the local hospitality businesses in the eligible area to inform them of the grants and encourage them to consider expanding and use the new environment to increase trading. "Anyone wanting to put outdoor seating facilities on the public highway such as chairs, tables, barriers, menu boards, parasols and associated structures, needs to first seek approval by applying for an Outdoor Seating Licence." The eligible streets are: Market Street Bank Street Broadway Bridge Street Hall Ings Tyrrel Street Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. Bradford Council Visitor numbers to Bradford rise - but are they spending money? People urged to return to city centre as works end
BBC News
02-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Bradford grant scheme aims to increase city's café culture
Money is being offered to businesses in Bradford in a bid to increase café culture in the Council is running a pilot scheme to help pay for outdoor furniture and equipment, with the aim of adding "vibrancy to the street scene".Applicants can apply for grants of up to £3,000 to buy items such as tables, chairs, planters and lighting as well covering the costs of scheme is currently only available to businesses on those roads "most impacted" by the recent £48m Transforming Cities Fund works, the council said. Alex Ross-Shaw, the council's executive member for regeneration, planning and transport said: "We welcome applications from businesses to introduce outdoor seating which will take advantage of the wonderful new pedestrianised areas."Our team have been visiting the local hospitality businesses in the eligible area to inform them of the grants and encourage them to consider expanding and use the new environment to increase trading."Anyone wanting to put outdoor seating facilities on the public highway such as chairs, tables, barriers, menu boards, parasols and associated structures, needs to first seek approval by applying for an Outdoor Seating Licence." The eligible streets are:Market StreetBank StreetBroadwayBridge StreetHall IngsTyrrel Street Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
City centre park opens after major works completed
A city centre park the size of a football pitch has opened to the public after construction works were completed. Norfolk Gardens, next to Bradford City Hall, has been expanded over the newly pedestrianised Hall Ings to create a new green space. Plants, trees and turf were added at the start of spring and, after being given time to settle, contractors have removed the fencing around the park. Stepping stones which mark the historic watercourse of the Bowling Beck that runs beneath the garden have also been installed. Work is continuing, however, on a neighbouring "parklet" on the former NCP car park site, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. A temporary sculpture – the Tower of Now – is being installed on that site this week. Norfolk Gardens, announced late last year, marks the final phase of a major £45m infrastructure project delivered by Bradford Council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority. It is part of the Transforming Cities Fund, awarded by the government in 2020. The 10,000 sq m (2.5 acre) area includes green spaces, flower beds, new seating areas and cycle lanes. More than 7,700 plants and shrubs of 173 different species including 57 trees have been planted, boosting local biodiversity. Tree varieties include birch, rowan, maple, lime and juneberry, with cherry trees to form a boulevard. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. 'Milestone' as city centre park nears completion Planting for new city park to begin City's new park to be completed by spring New city park will be larger than football ground Bradford Council Local Democracy Reporting Service
