MILLIONS of pounds have been allocated to pay for transport schemes in Wiltshire over the next year.

Around £3.7m-worth of spending was approved by Wiltshire County Council's regulatory committee when they met on Wednesday.

The money is part of the total £24.493m 2003-04 Local Transport Plan (LTP) funding settlement for Wiltshire announced by the Government in December.

The LTP sets out policies that aim to reduce dependence on the private car and promote alternatives, such as the use of public transport, cycling and walking.

Fleur de Rhe-Philipe, the council's cabinet member for the environment, said: "I am delighted that this significant amount of funding will improve Wiltshire's transport network for all users."

The schemes which will receive funding include town centre improvements in Trowbridge, the development of cycleways in Warminster and Melksham and the creation of home zones in Trowbridge and Warminster.

Around £950,000 will also be spent on the county's bus network and £50,000 will be spent on developing safer routes to a number of secondary schools.