A POPULAR high street is set to benefit from £300,000 of improvements, including a new cycle path and better pavements, under the latest funding from the Mayor of London.

The money will be spent to improve Wanstead High Street, and Boris Johnson said the council would have more power in deciding how the money is spent.

However, Redbridge Council has played down the mayor's claims and said its own guidelines on where the cash should go must first be approved at City Hall.

Announcing the funding, Mayor Johnson said: “I’m especially pleased we have been able to cut the red tape that used to surround these schemes and give the boroughs more freedom to choose how they want to spend money to improve their local communities.”

However, a spokeswoman for Redbridge Council said: “The council has some discretion on how funding is used for particular schemes each year but it must be guided by the agreed Local Implementation Plan which is produced by the council.

“This Plan has recently been reviewed and revised to reflect the Mayor’s latest transport strategy for London.

“The revisions have been approved by cabinet and are with the Mayor of London for approval.”

Redbridge is set to receive £3.3 million to spend across the borough next year.

Proposals drawn up so far include £100,000 for Gants Hill and transport links to Valentines Park, and a £190,000 scheme to make South Woodford town centre more accessible for pedestrians, cyclists and people with reduced mobility.