Lib Dem Minister gives Manchester £32,460,000

Discussing Sustainable Transport with Norman Baker MP
at Liberal Democrat Conference

Yesterday Lib Dem Minister Norman Baker MP announced Government  funding worth £32,460,000 for Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) to fund the Let’s Get to Work scheme from the Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF). It is fantastic that the LSTF government initiative is continuing to allocate funds for projects that will stimulate economic growth whilst reducing carbon emissions throughout the country. A single Greater Manchester-wide bid was lodged and we have now received the funds, the second highest allocation in the country, which will be spent on making travel in Manchester greener and easier.

Sustainable Commuting

Let’s Get to Work has some great initiatives that can now get underway thanks to the money that the Lib Dem Transport Minister, Norman Baker MP, has allocated to Manchester. The scheme aims to take 26 million km of car journeys off the road and turn them into 10 million extra public transport journeys and 2 million extra cycling trips which could mean a potential reduction in carbon emissions of around 1,000 tonnes a year, which can only be a good thing. One of the core themes for Let’s Get to Work is ‘active travel’ that will involve different cycling initiatives including the Greater Manchester Commuter Cycle Project and projects to give people cycle training making Manchester greener and healthier.

The Economy

Now that the scheme can go ahead we can look forward to the prospect of a more mobile workforce therefore increasing the labour pool for employers and making it easier for employees to get to work. TfGM say the package has the potential to create the equivalent of 900 jobs, save businesses 1500 absentee days and save 1 million person hours of travel time each year. All this combined will help boost the competitiveness of Greater Manchester’s economy to the tune of £28 million according to Let’s Get to Work’s proposals.

Overall the Government funded scheme should have a very positive impact on our area making us healthier, helping the environment, boosting the economy and saving us time and money. A big “Thank you” to Lib Dem Transport Minister Norman Baker!