£120m to get London moving

Mayor Ken Livingstone has announced a £120 million cash injection to help London's boroughs cut congestion and improve road safety.

The 2002-3 spending plan, which gives councils £10 million more than they received this year, is aimed at speeding up one of the main planks of Mr Livingstone's policy - to get London moving.

He said: "London's boroughs are the best placed to carry out vital local improvements. By guaranteeing this increased allocation, Transport for London and the boroughs can work together to make the road and transport changes the city needs.

"To get London moving we need to prioritise. My transport strategy has outlined the fundamental work that needs to be done to revive our city and now the boroughs can put a lot of this into action." Under the Mayor's plan, half of the budget will be allocated for borough schemes aimed at reducing road congestion and mending roads.

The other half is earmarked for bus priority lanes and cycling and pedestrian schemes.

Earlier this month, Transport for London came under fire for underspending its budget on the capital's potholed and damaged roads by millions of pounds.