Alongside news that the U.K. government would be delaying parts of the HS2 high-speed rail scheme and mothballing two road schemes, transport secretary Mark Harper revealed swingeing cuts to the active travel budget.
$845 million was approved for active travel in the government’s 2021 Spending Review. $273 million has been spent to date. In today’s announcement Mr. Harper said $119 million would be spent over the remaining two years, which is a cut of $452 million.
“These are the difficult but responsible decisions we are taking,” said Mr. Harper in a written statement to parliament.
Delaying HS2, mothballing two schemes and cutting the active travel budget was putting the “priorities of the British people first,” he said, adding that the cuts were to in control inflation and reduce government debt.
Parts of the HS2 line between Birmingham, Crewe and Manchester will be delayed by at least two years, meaning the line to Crewe may not be open until 2036, with Manchester not until 2043.
One of the road schemes kicked into the next funding round is the Lower Thames Crossing, a tunnel and road scheme between Essex and Kent.