Reform-Led Council Backs Cycling Investment Despite National Party's Opposition to Active Travel Policies

A Reform UK-controlled local authority has publicly endorsed cycling infrastructure investment and sustainable travel initiatives, taking a markedly different approach from the party's national leadership on active travel policy.

To mark World Bicycle Day, West Northamptonshire Council unveiled a series of programmes designed to encourage more residents to take up cycling, highlighting both health and environmental benefits. The activities include bike maintenance workshops, cycle security advice sessions and guided community rides delivered in partnership with organisations including British Cycling.

The initiatives have received strong backing from the council's Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, Councillor Richard Butler, who described cycling as an accessible and cost-effective way for residents to improve their wellbeing while helping to reduce traffic congestion and improve local air quality.

The council is also continuing work on the next phase of the Abington Active Travel Scheme, a project that will deliver segregated cycle routes along Bridgewater Drive and Park Avenue, alongside improvements to pedestrian infrastructure. Scheduled for completion later this year, the scheme carries a price tag of £4.7 million and is being funded through a combination of Active Travel Fund allocations, local transport grants and UK Shared Prosperity Fund support.

Councillor Butler said the project would improve accessibility and safety for those choosing to walk, wheel or cycle for everyday journeys, helping create a more connected transport network across the area.

The council's support for active travel is notable given Reform UK's national stance on cycling infrastructure and road policy. The party's leader, Nigel Farage, has frequently criticised investment in cycle lanes and questioned the value of schemes funded through active travel programmes.

Farage has previously argued that substantial sums are being spent on cycling infrastructure that sees limited use and has criticised councils for prioritising such projects while facing financial pressures. He has also voiced opposition to certain road safety measures, including proposals to reduce drink-driving limits in England and Wales to match those already in force in Scotland.

The divergence between local and national positions has become increasingly apparent since Reform UK gained control of West Northamptonshire Council in 2025. The party secured a majority administration after winning 42 seats, taking control of an area that had traditionally supported Conservative candidates.

Councillor Butler, who previously served in local government before joining the council's cabinet, has since become a prominent advocate for transport improvements and was also appointed to the board of West Midlands Rail.

While some local residents have expressed concerns about aspects of the Abington scheme, criticism has largely focused on delivery arrangements and contractors rather than opposition to the cycling infrastructure itself.

West Northamptonshire is not the only Reform-led authority to support active travel projects. In neighbouring North Northamptonshire, another Reform-controlled council recently welcomed the completion of a segregated cycle route linking Corby railway station with the town centre.

That £8.3 million scheme, funded through the Government's Towns Fund programme, was praised by local leaders for creating a safer environment for cyclists and pedestrians while contributing to broader environmental improvements.

The developments suggest that, despite the national party's scepticism towards active travel investment, some Reform-controlled councils are taking a more pragmatic approach to local transport policy, particularly where external funding is available to improve infrastructure and encourage healthier travel choices.