UK government announces £560-mn green transport fund

The UK government has announced an "unprecedented" £560 million fund aimed at boosting green transport initiatives for economic growth and carbon emissions reduction.

The White Paper published yesterday is intended to empower local people to initiate ''innovative'' transport schemes in their community.

A £560-million Local Sustainable Transport Fund forms the key measure of the proposals, which transport minister Norman Baker, a liberal democrat hopes would help tackle climate change and deliver cleaner environments as also help economic growth.

According to Baker who spoke in the Commons yesterday, the White Paper would give local authorities "more power and flexibility" to meet local transport needs.

"Our commitment to helping local authorities is reaffirmed by the amount of money we are making available," he said.

"The local sustainable transport fund forms part of a wider picture of a more streamlined and simplified funding to local authorities."