Monies will go towards creating more ‘low traffic neighbourhoods’, segregated cycle lanes, pedestrian improvements and ‘school streets’ in England.

The survey from Kantar Media also found that two thirds of people across England support the reallocation of road space for walking and cycling in their local area. Further research from pollster Redfield & Wilton suggests that in London, just over half of people support low traffic neighbourhoods and that less than one in five are opposed to them.

Government also claims that an evaluation of early school streets projects has shown that traffic outside schools has reduced by an average of two thirds, the number of children cycling to school has risen by half and vehicle pollution outside schools is down by nearly three quarters.

The Transport Secretary has set new conditions on local authorities receiving funding, urging them to consult thoroughly with communities first. In a letter to council leaders outlining the new funding allocations, he said some schemes implemented through the first tranche of funding had not made a meaningful change to the status quo.

Grant Shapps said many of the footway widenings installed in town centres using barriers could “prevent pedestrians from crossing the road, cause congestion for buses and motor traffic, and impede access for kerbside businesses”.

The Campaign for Better Transport welcomed the £175M for cycling and walking infrastructure. Chief executive Paul Tuohy said: “Our transport habits are at a crossroads right now: we must steer away from a future of congestion, pollution and rising carbon emissions.”

He added that the survey results “should give councils confidence that not only are walking and cycling schemes good for our health, air quality and climate, they're popular too”.

(Photograph: Sustrans)