The Lib Dems have spent significant amounts of taxpayers’ money trying to increase cycling rates, reduce vehicle pollution and encourage residents to exercise more.  All with little success.

Despite the Lib Dem council receiving significant grants to encourage us to cycle more, recent government evidence shows a 5% decline since 2019 in people cycling at least once a month. Cycling one a month for leisure purposes has fallen even more – from 15% to 7%. The decline is higher than the national average.

Failed experiment and money wasted

In 2020 a grant of over £200,000 was awarded which the Lib Dem council used to fund a trial cycle lane in Elm Grove and King’s Road. This went ahead despiteserious concerns raised by residents and traders. The trial stopped after 3 weeks when it became a farce because bollards were constantly removed and replaced daily. Feedback was overwhelmingly negative, even from those initially in favour of schemes to encourage more cycling. For example:

“Bollards knocked over. Loading bays obscured. Cars parked in between bollards. A totally brilliant idea executed with ZERO thought.”

The failure was down to Lib Dem councillors who failed to oversee the planning of an important scheme resulting in over £200,00 of public money squandered.

What will Labour do?

Sources:

https://travel.portsmouth.gov.uk/elm-grove-and-kings-road-trial-cycle-lane-feedback/lessons-learned

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/walking-and-cycling-statistics-cw