ESSEX County Council has secured just half of the initial cash it wanted from the Government to implement cycling and walking improvements across the county.

The Department for Transport has announced Essex will receive £969,000 from the first phase of its Emergency Active Travel Funding, despite County Hall attempting to secure £1.9 million.

County Hall said it had requested feedback on the reasons behind the shortfall, which was the largest by amount in the UK - although Essex was one of the largest bids.

A spokesman said: “Essex Highways is currently evaluating the impact of the decision by DfT on funding but remain committed to the delivery of more than £1 million of measures to assist with social distancing in all towns already identified in the programme.”

The first round of cash has been used to implement a series of changes in town centres, including 20 miles an hour limits and extra space for walkers and cyclists.

In Colchester car drivers have been banned from using the High Street as part of the measures.

Read more >>> High Street car ban and 20mph limits coming to Colchester 

County Hall hopes to secure millions more funding, as much as £7.7 million, as part of a second round of cash.

A spokesman for Colchester Cycling Campaign said there would be red faces at County Hall following the Government’s decision.

He added: “There is still phase two, which carries the bulk of the award for Active Travel. We will work with Essex to try to ensure their bid for the next tranche of money is as strong as possible.”

The bid for the second lot of cash will be submitted in August.

The spokesman for County Hall added: “We have yet to receive confirmation of how much could potentially be allocated to Essex but the overall pot across the country is much larger than tranche one.”

The further cash could be used to look into improvements like Park and Rides, electric vehicle charging points, e-scooter trials and Rapid Transit routes.

Read more >>> Colchester high street car ban - how first weeks have gone

Kevin Bentley, Essex County Council’s infrastructure boss, said: “We want to transform the way Essex residents travel and this funding will enable us to make our county into a place where many more journeys are made by people cycling who feel safer, and pedestrians who have improved routes, and where communities and the workplace are connected for a more sustainable future.”

Visit essex.gov.uk/safer-greener-healthier.