London Councils heads off £37 million funding cut threat to boroughs’ transport projects

Hackney’s elected mayor, Jules Pipe, who is also Chair of London Councils. Photograph: Hackney Council

Cross-party lobby group London Councils, chaired by Hackney Mayor Jules Pipe, has headed off a £37 million funding cut threat to transport projects across London.

Boris Johnson has scrapped plans to dramatically reduce the amount of cash shared between all 33 London councils for Local Implementation Plans to improve transport after receiving representations from the group.

Islington councillor Catherine West, who is also a prospective MP for Hornsey and Wood Green and is chair of London Councils’ Transport and Environment Committee, said: “London Councils has lobbied hard to protect the vital funding for Local Implementation Plans and we welcome the Mayor of London’s intervention to secure the money for the boroughs.

“While only accounting for one per cent of Transport for London’s total budget, LIPs funding pays for important schemes to revitalise town centres; lowering curbs to help wheelchair users to board buses more easily and improving pavements and borough roads for pedestrians, cyclists and traffic.”