Six projects in Northern Ireland are set to benefit from a £3.1 million share of the £50 million if Sustrans Connect2 is successful in Big Lottery Fund’s: The People’s £50 Million contest. A major project to get thousands of people walking and cycling across Northern Ireland came a step closer as Sustrans’ Connect2 Lottery bid entered the ultimate stage of the Big Lottery Fund’s: The People’s £50 Million contest. The final shortlist was announced and TV presenter Lorraine Kelly and former minister Charles Clarke will lead the sustainable transport charity’s bid to transform local travel opportunities in Northern Ireland and across the UK. Adam Hart Davies, Wayne Hemingway and Ken Livingstone are among other high-profile supporters.
Six projects in Northern Ireland
Six projects in Northern Ireland are set to benefit from a £3.1 million share of the £50 million if Sustrans Connect2 is successful in Big Lottery Fund’s: The People’s £50 Million contest.The Northern Ireland projects are:
- Ballymoney Railway Bridge and Links
- Derry ~ Londonderry Greenway and Cyclepath scheme.
- Dungannon Park Connections
- Newtownabbey to Belfast Lough Three Mile Water Greenway
- Omagh Riverside Path and New Bridges
- Strabane River Mourne Bridge and Links
Public vote on TV
Four organisations, including ‘Sustrans’ Connect2 project, are competing for the £50 million grant to be decided by public vote on ITV1 in December. Each project will be the subject of a television programme on ITV1 in the week commencing 3 December. Sustrans’ Connect2 will be featured on Tuesday 4 December.Full programme details will be released in mid November. Voting will take place online and by phone vote. Online voting for The People’s £50 Million Lottery Giveaway will open at 9am on 26 November at www.thepeoples50million.org.uk. Telephone voting will be over the weekend 7-10 December.
About Connect2
Connect2 will improve local travel in 79 communities across the UK by building walking and cycling bridges and tunnels, developing links, and even re-instating a ferry. Connect2 will also bring people closer together by making journeys quicker, healthier and more convenient.From cyclists and leisure walkers to commuters and schoolchildren, everyone will have a better quality of life thanks to Connect2. Across the UK six million people live within a mile of the proposed schemes, including one million schoolchildren.It is estimated that 79,000 tonnes of carbon emissions could be saved annually once the schemes are completed.Lorraine Kelly said:
“I meet so many people from all walks of life and I find one thing affects us all, travel. How many times have we stood on the edge of a busy road waiting for the traffic to ease or had to travel miles out of our way to get to the one bridge over the river?”Connect2 deals with just these daily challenges and gives us the option to do the journey in a way that helps the environment. And, of course, it gets us fit - forget the gym, Connect2 is the answer to our obesity problems”.
Steven Patterson Sustrans’ Northern Ireland Manager said,
“Connect2 will build on the National Cycle Network and provide local opportunities for people to combat two of the most pressing issues facing us - obesity and climate change.
“With over 175,000 people in Northern Ireland living within 1 mile of the proposed cycling and walking schemes in Ballymoney, Derry ~ Londonderry, Dungannon, Newtownabbey, Omagh and Strabane we would urge everyone to vote for Connect2.”
More informationTo find out more about Connect2, and to register support, visit www.sustransconnect2.org.uk or text Connect2 to 80010
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