North East Mayor and Local Transport Minister ride new £11 million cycleway

Minister for Local Transport, Simon Lightwood, visited the Seafront Sustainable Route in Tynemouth today (20th August) to reaffirm the government’s long-term commitment to investing in cycling and walking.  

The Minister cycled along the newly completed first mile of the cycleway from Tynemouth Priory to Tynemouth Aquarium with North East Mayor Kim McGuinness and Active Travel England (ATE) commissioner and former Olympian Chris Boardman.

The visit comes after the Transport Secretary pledged to provide local authorities with long-term funding to undertake active travel improvements. 

The new £11 million Seafront Sustainable Route provides North East residents with access to a simple and safe cycleway, allowing them to enjoy the health benefits of cycling and walking that the government wants to provide across the country. 

The route has been heavily backed by local doctors and nurses who say healthier travel options will cut their workloads and patient waiting times.

The five-mile cycleway from Tynemouth to Whitley Bay was given full funding from the first tarmac being laid in 2023, which has allowed North Tyneside council to progress the works with full confidence. The £11 million investment from Active Travel England means that the full route will be completed by 2025, to connect communities, offer healthy travel options, and boost tourism to North Tyneside. 

Minister for Local Transport, Simon Lightwood said: “Cycling and walking builds happier, healthier communities, and we want everyone to have access to infrastructure that allows them to ride safely, like the cycleway here in North Tyneside. 

“We'll equip councils with longer-term investments to build proper cycle routes that plug in to other transport.  

“It’s been great today to discuss how we can replicate the Seafront Sustainable Route across the region, to give more people the option to travel how they want to.”

This government is clear that by improving interchanges between bikes, buses and rail, councils can reduce pressures on the NHS, and ensure that all road users work together. 

On the same day, the Minister also visited Nexus’ Tyne and Wear Metro training facility at South Shields, to see preparations for its incoming new fleet of trains, which are being part funded by £337 million of government money, and will be in full service by 2026.”

This includes connections with the revamped North Shields ferry landing, where the Minister saw how £12 million government funding will transform the existing terminal, and bus routes around North Tyneside.

North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said: “I’m delighted that the government is committed to providing longer term funding for active travel. I committed in my manifesto to expand the active travel network in the North East – making sure that our streets are safe for people to walk, wheel and cycle and that we take a fully joined up approach. 

“The new Seafront Sustainable Route is a great addition to the region’s active travel network and it’s been wonderful to cycle along the route in North Tyneside today – you can already see how it’s improving travel locally with families making full use of the new route this summer.

“It’s so important that we continue to invest in our infrastructure to help more local people to walk, wheel and cycle when they can. Well-designed schemes are a must to give residents a safe, sustainable and appealing way to travel – we all benefit when we travel actively.” 

Chris Boardman, National Active Travel commissioner said: “Active travel is the health solution staring us in the face, and by giving everyone the opportunity to walk, wheel or cycle to where they need to be, we’ll make massive improvements to the nation’s physical and mental wellbeing and build a happier, more productive society. 

“The Seafront Sustainable Route is one of the brilliant schemes that will help us achieve this, all while enabling thousands of residents and visitors to get a bit more movement into their lives, take in the sea air and enjoy beautiful views for decades to come. It’s win-win for everyone.”