Funding welcomed for Low Carbon Travel and Transport projects in Inverness

(left to right) Cllr Allan Henderson, Chair of Highland Council’s Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee and Chair of HITRANS; Dan Jenkins, NHS Highland; and Fiona McInally HITRANS outside Rose Street Car Park, Inverness which will become a Low Carbon and Active Travel Hub

The Highland Council and partners HITRANS and NHS Highland have welcomed £1.6m awarded this week (Wednesday, 31 October 2018) from Transport Scotland’s Low Carbon Travel and Transport (LCTT) Challenge Fund.

The funding has been warmly received by partner agencies for their Low Carbon and Active Travel Hub project in Inverness which is being match funded by Highland Council £265,000; NHS Highland £40,000 and HITRANS £15,000.

Cllr Allan Henderson, Chair of Highland Council’s Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee and Chair of HITRANS explained: “We are developing a Low Carbon and Active Travel Hub which will be located within Highland Council’s centrally located Rose Street multi-storey car park.

“The hub will establish an electric vehicles charging hub with 13 multi-use electrical vehicle charging points that is capable of further expansion and will trial innovative energy supply sources and storage that can act as a catalyst for encouraging the transition to ultra-low emission vehicles across the Highlands.”

Fiona McInally HITRANS added: “HITRANS are very supportive of this innovative project – the Active Travel Hub at Rose Street will also, provide walking and cycling advice, bike hire, cycling workshop and support outreach programmes.”

Dan Jenkins, NHS Highland said: “NHS Highland is delighted that a secondary multi modal satellite hub will be located at Raigmore hospital. This will provide a large bike hub for staff and patients, EV rapid charge points, E car club and provide improved public transport facilities and information.

The Inverness Low Carbon and Active Travel Hub project was awarded funding as part of the Low Carbon Travel and Transport Challenge Fund established by Transport Scotland from funds awarded under European Regional Development Fund 2014-2020 programme and Transport Scotland funding, where relevant, to enable everyday functional journeys to be taken by walking, cycling and public transport and to support an increased proportion on ultra-low emission vehicles on Scotland’s roads.

Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity Michael Matheson said:  “I am delighted that the latest project from the Low Carbon Transport and Travel Challenge Fund will be in Inverness, bringing a total of 10 innovative sustainable travel projects across Scotland. £4.6m has been committed through the European Regional Development Fund in the second round, with up to £1.67m from the Scottish Government to help realise more active travel and low carbon travel hubs.

“This project will support our commitment made through the Programme for Government to phase out the need for new petrol and diesel cars by 2032. In addition it supports our ambition to build an Active Nation, where more people than ever before can experience the various benefits of walking and cycling.

“This exciting project will join many others across Scotland in supporting more people to choose active travel and low carbon transport modes for their daily journeys.”

Notes:

The Scottish Government is the Managing Authority for the European Structural Funds 2014-20 Programme. For further information visit our website or follow @scotgovESIF

• Transport Scotland is Lead Partner for the ERDF Low Carbon Travel and Transport Programme. http://www.transport.gov.scot/environment/low-carbon-travel-and-transport
• As part of the ERDF programme, Transport Scotland has committed to running a LCTT Challenge Fund and has appointed Energy Saving Trust (EST) to administer the Challenge Fund.
• Transport Scotland has also made available a limited budget – up to £1.67 million in total – to support a proportion of the match funding requirements of Round 2 LCTT Challenge Fund projects.
• Further information about the LCTT Challenge Fund is available on Energy Saving Trust’s website www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/lcttchallengefund or contact LCTT@est.org.uk / 0131 555 8690.