Millions of pounds to improve transport

7 July 2011, 05:00 | Updated: 7 July 2011, 08:46

Three Thames Valley authorities have been given £15 million to make transport more environmentally friendly.

The cash is coming for the Department of Transport's Local Sustainable Transport Fund.

Reading has been awarded £4.9 million pounds, which they say they'll use to improve facilities for cyclists, bus passengers and pedestrians.

Some of the money will go towards looking at developing a bike hire scheme in the town, which would be the biggest cycle hire scheme outside London. It could mean 1000 bikes available for hire at around 150 docking stations.

Oxfordshire has been given £5 million. £3.5 million will be used to improve transport in Oxford. The Thornhill Park and Ride will be expanded, with an additional 500 spaces, a new outward bound bus lane will be created on London Road in Headington and two low carbon bus services will be established, connecting the Thornhill Park and Ride with the John Radcliffe Hospital and the city centre.

The remaining money will be used on a pilot scheme for bike hire in Oxford and work across the county to promote car sharing.

Hampshire has been awarded £4.1 million from the fund. The money will go to urban areas, including Aldershot, Andover, Baingstoke, Farnborough, Fleet and Winchester. It will go towards improving bus travel across the county and improving rail services and facilities.