Batley revealed as one of six West Yorkshire communities to benefit from major 'active travel' funding as Mayor welcomes £5.5m investment

It is one of six community projects to be funded in West Yorkshire, and comes as part of a wider £5.5million investment in active travel across the county.

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, has welcomed the investment.

She said: “This investment is a great vote of confidence in our region and will allow us to build on the improvements we’ve already made.

“It will help more people to live healthy, active lifestyles, whilst supporting our mission to tackle the climate emergency.

“We’re making it easier for people to get around in a greener, more vibrant West Yorkshire.”

Batley’s Lydgate School Safety project will receive £378,620 to provide infrastructure – including a toucan crossing – to “support behavioural change towards an uptake in active travel modes”.

The investment aims to complement other planned active travel infrastructure in the East Batley area, and will include one new road crossing.

The investment was part of a wider announcement made by Active Travel England – a government executive agency – on March 23.

It is hoped the improvements from the investment will make local journeys on foot or by bike a "more attractive option” for people.

As part of the announcement, Roads Minister Guy Opperman said: “This funding is not just an investment in new infrastructure, but in communities that will benefit from the social mobility and health benefits that improved and new walking and cycling routes will bring.”

The £5.5million West Yorkshire investment will be divided into two sections, with £2.5million going towards a “Capability Fund” which will support campaign behaviour change and network development across West Yorkshire over the next 18 months.

The remaining £3million – from which the Lydgate School Safety project will receive cash – will fund six new projects, with communities set to benefit from wider canal towpaths and improved crossing points, as well as improved facilities and infrastructure in Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees and Leeds.

For more information about active travel in West Yorkshire, visit the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Cycle City Connect website.