A GREEN initiative to get more people to cycle, walk and use public transport across the Tees Valley has been boosted by a multi-million investment from the Government.

Tees Valley Combined Authority has secured the £3.23m Sustainable Travel Access Fund allocation to help drive forward the ambitious proposals to get people out of their car and lessen the impact on the environment.

The fund – which covers Darlington, Middlesbrough, Hartlepool, Stockton and Redcar and Cleveland – will be used for targeted marketing to raise awareness and provide encouragement for the use of alternative modes of transport to the car.

Councillor Bill Dixon, leader of Darlington Borough Council and chairman of the Tees Valley Combined Authority’s Transport Committee, has welcomed the news.

He said: “Tees Valley has been successful in securing one of the largest allocations of money from the Sustainable Travel Access Fund to deliver this important project.

“By making more people aware of the safe and accessible transport options available, we expect more people will be inspired to choose walking, cycling and public transport.

“Together with the £8 million already secured for improvements to the transport network this funding will help tackle local transport problems, open doors for jobseekers and encourage people to consider alternatives to car journeys.”

The cash will be used to provide information, training, support and, in some cases, equipment to help people travel to employment, training, education, health, retail and leisure facilities by foot, bicycle, bus and train.

This is in addition to more than £8m of investment from the Tees Valley Combined Authority to support physical enhancements to walking and cycling networks, and access to the bus and rail networks.

Announcing the investment, Transport Minister Andrew Jones called for people to get out of their cars to help reduce congestion on the roads.

He said: “We are committed to improving how people travel and this investment will ensure that people’s journeys are cheaper, safer and better for the environment.

"It will help people to become more active and better transport planning will reduce congestion on our roads – particularly at peak times."

For further information about the work of the Tees Valley Combined Authority visit www.teesvalley-ca.gov.uk