£1m cash boost for cycling (From The Westmorland Gazette)

£1m cash boost for cycling

3:54pm Wednesday 15th January 2003 in Sport By Gazette News Desk

LOCAL authorities, charities and cycling organisations have been invited to submit bids for their share of a further £1 million which has been earmarked to support a variety of cycling projects.

The cash is the second round of the Department for Transport Cycling Projects Funds' and follows the first round which gave grants of £2 million last year, including £31,000 for 22 schemes across the North West.

Transport Minister John Spellar said the money offered "real opportunities" to develop interesting local projects that would not usually receive funding from central government.

"An increase in cycling will not be achieved by the actions of central and local government alone. Cycling organisations, voluntary groups and the private sector all need to play their parts and this initiative is designed to assit grass roots action by these groups."

The schemes which have already received funding feature ventures such as secure bicycle parking, provision of cycle routes and facilities for cyclists including lockers and showers.

Cumbrian schemes include £28,736 for the tourist board's Eskdale trail, a link to Dalgeith Station and the carriage of bikes on the Ravenglass-Eskdale railway; and £500 for pool bikes for employees on the Redhills Business Park at Penrith.

Copies of the applications forms for grants and the criteria against which applications will be assessed are now available from Department for Transport Charging and Local Transport Division, Zone 3/23, Great Minster House, 76 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DR or by e-mail to cyclingprojects.fund@dft.gsi.gov.uk

Applications can also be completed on line at www.local-transport.dft.gov.uk/cpf/index.htm