ALMOST ‘no money’ will be available in the next four years to create new rural walking and cycling routes across Somerset due to grant funding restrictions.

Somerset Council has committed nearly £16 million to delivering new active travel projects between now and 2030.

Much of the funding will come from Active Travel England, which is part of the Department for Transport, or through housing developer contributions.

But, less than £1.6 million will be spent in rural areas, including on the Steam Coast Trail and the wider West Somerset and Exmoor area.

By contrast, nearly £11 million has been allocated for schemes in urban areas, and another £3.5 million for interchanges near bus and railway stations, including a planned transport hub in Taunton and Wellington’s railway station.

Councillors said it would do little to persuade people in rural areas to walk and cycle for local journeys rather than use their cars.

Somerset Cllr Ros Wyke pointed out 49 per cent of the population of Somerset lived in a rural environment.

She said: “Going forward, there is almost no money available to do any real active travel in rural areas, and we will have to be as creative as possible, through Section 106 agreements and whatever else.”

Council infrastructure and transport director Mike O’Dowd-Jones said: “There is a larger contribution being made into urban areas, and that reflects the current Government’s views and priorities.

“We have a balancing act to make sure we do what we need to do to keep receiving the funding, but also to continue to work with communities to help them deliver rural schemes where they can.”

Somerset executive Cllr Richard Wilkins said: “We are bringing our public health colleagues into the conversation, but we need to help of the Government and Active Travel England to drive this forward.”