By Matt Jarram, Local Democracy Reporter
Nottingham City Council has approved £11m of improvements to streets and cycle lanes after it secured a grant from Government.
The Labour-run authority missed out on a Levelling Up bid in October to demolish some of the Broadmarsh shopping centre to make way for a multi-million-pound mixed development for houses, businesses and leisure facilities.
But it was successful on a Levelling Up bid to improve streets and make walking and cycling easier and safer around the city.
The funding will be split between each ward, with areas deemed most in need getting more funding. The works have been identified by local people and prioritised by ward councillors.
The work is due to be completed by March 2024.
Aspley will have the most money spent on it with £695,100, followed by Hyson Green and Arboretum with £690,100, followed by St Ann’s with around £678,000.
Work will include upgrading pavements and walkways to make them safer, repairing roads and cycle paths, adding cycle paths as well as green spaces and tree planting.
Nottingham City Council’s Executive Board approved the spending this week. Cllr David Mellen (Lab), leader of the council, said this would mean “long-awaited” work can now commence.
He added: “We are able to say to citizens this work will start in September, and it will happen. It is not just roads, but bins and trees.”
Cllr Audra Wynter (Lab), portfolio holder for highways, transport and parks said: “We want Nottingham to be an inclusive city where people freely choose to walk, cycle, and use public transport..
“The improvements to our local streets will make it easier and safer to choose walking and cycling for short trips, improve air quality, and reduce carbon emissions from transport.
“This will help us to strike a balance between cars, and roads where people live and children play and walk to school, and contribute towards our Carbon Neutral 2028 goal.
“We will work hard during the next two years to keep local people up to date with our progress.”
