Active travel schemes will receive a funding boost of more than £53 million this year as part of further efforts to encourage healthy travel – with more than £20 million to follow.

44 larger schemes and packages of schemes in local authorities will be funded through the first tranche of the Active Travel Fund this year, worth £47 million. Included in this sum is also a £14 million ‘core allocation’ shared among all local authorities.

A further £20 million will be allocated later in the year to support more schemes.

In addition, pupils will be helped to get to school through the Safe Routes in Communities grant – now worth £6.4 million. This will support 21 schemes across Wales and has a focus on creating safe walking and cycling routes around schools.

The investment in active travel forms part of funding package worth more than £210 million to support the new transport strategy.