NEW funding is being made available to help Stroud residents to travel to school, work and doctors’ appointments in a greener and more sustainable way.

Gloucestershire County Council (GCC) has been awarded extra money from the government to support the Thinktravel programme.

This extra £484k will bring investment up to £586.5k to support the green initiative across the county.

GCC is looking to use the money to improve access to health, jobs and education.

This funding will make it easier and greener for people to use NHS services by providing more information about different forms of transport.

The money will also be used to provide bike vouchers and travel planning to make it easier for people to cycle to work.

There will also be more travel education in Stroud schools to make it easier for students to cycle to school, cutting congestion and helping cut pollution.

Cllr Nigel Moor, cabinet member for infrastructure at the council, said: “This is excellent news for the entire county.

“Greener travel, particularly cycling, can cut congestion, fight air pollution and help people stay healthy. “This money will give a huge boost to the county council’s campaign to make it easier for people to choose sustainable travel.”

In February, GCC submitted a bid for £484k funding for sustainable travel to the Department for Transport.

The county council had already secured £102.5k match funding from a number of supporting organisations.

Government confirmed the bid was successful on May 24. The money is ring-fenced by government and can only be used for sustainable transport.

For more information, please visit www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/sttyrc