Cycle lanes and paths to be linked to boost health

The money is part of a national £291million package from the government's Active Travel England

A £12.8m funding pot has been announced to help join up cycle lanes and footpaths across a region.

The North East will get the cash as part of the government's Active Travel England (ATE), with about £9.5m going to the North East Combined Authority and £3.3m to the Tees Valley Combined Authority.

Paul Adams from charity the Sustrans, which looks after the main cycle and walking routes across the country, said the funding was a "good start".

He also said that although there were good sections of road network for pedestrians and cyclists in the region, they were "very disjointed" and the money would help link them.

He added that the £9.5m for the North East Combined Authority would pay for about nine km of new roads.

He said: "We need a steady stream of much more than this over the course of 10 years before we can really go from the coast to the town - every direction - Sunderland to Newcastle, Cramlington to Blyth, Newcastle to Sunderland to Durham, so there's a lot to do, but this is a good start."

Health benefits

Mr Adams said cars were a more popular mode of transport because of the way towns were designed.

"The car is the safest and easiest way to get around, but it's not the fault of the drivers, it's the way we've built the place," he said.

The government said it hoped the scheme would help improve people's health, reduce sick days and ease pressure on the NHS.

National Active Travel Commissioner Chris Boardman said: "Making it simple and safe to walk, wheel or cycle to schools, shops and workplaces is one of the most effective actions we can take to improve the nation's health, economy and get to net zero, all in one."