Enfield and Haringey have bagged more than £3 million from a scheme to improve walking and cycling routes in the wake of the coronavirus lockdown.

The money, from Transport for London’s (TfL) Streetspace for London fund, will be used to create dozens of infrastructure projects such as segregated cycles lanes and traffic reduction schemes.

Although the measures will initially be temporary, many of them could be made permanent at a later date.

Enfield Council scooped £2.06 million from the TfL scheme – the fourth highest amount out of the London boroughs and the City of London. Haringey Council bagged £1.14 million, putting it in ninth place.

The TfL funding scheme was launched to create more space for people to walk and cycle safely as the city emerges from the coronavirus lockdown.

Projects that have won funding include the extension of the Cycle Superhighway 1 route to link Tottenham and Edmonton, walking and cycling routes at Angel Walk in Edmonton and various ‘school streets’ schemes to improve safety near schools.

The funding will also help local businesses to re-open by enabling safe social distancing for residents visiting them and providing space for them to effectively trade and operate.

Cllr Kirsten Hearn, cabinet member for climate change and sustainability at Haringey Council, said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive this funding from TfL to support our walking and cycling infrastructure in Haringey.

“We are committed to promoting the safety of our residents, particularly as lockdown eases, providing more options for active travel in the borough while ensuring the necessary social distancing measures are in place.

“The planned works will help to reassure residents that cycling is a safe, clean and efficient way to get around. We have also identified low traffic neighbourhoods to discourage use of cars.

“Long term, we aim to completely transform the borough for active travel, to promote the health of our residents and the environment through a cleaner and greener Haringey.”

Enfield Council’s cabinet member for environment and sustainability Cllr Guney Dogan said: “Enfield Councils’ Healthy Streets team has started work on a number of projects as part of the Streetspace for London initiative. These projects aim to increase space for social distancing and enable more opportunities for active travel. The initiatives will also help to restore the confidence of shoppers, walkers and cyclers who are visiting our town centres for leisure or work purposes.

“We had a good response to our interactive map, where Enfield residents were able to submit suggestions for Streetspace measures. We have already implemented changes to increase space for social distancing along Fore Street and within Enfield Town and this week have made changes at Winchmore Hill Green to widen the area for walkers and visitors to local shops and restaurants.

“We continue to look at allocating space on our highways to make sure people are able to access services on foot and by bike, improving safety and convenience whilst observing social distancing. In addition, we are helping businesses to reopen and operate safely and in-line with new requirements.

“Additional fundamental changes include an ambitious Low Traffic Neighbourhood and School Streets programme, which complement the Enfield Climate Action Plan 2020, agreed by the cabinet last week.”