Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

pounds 42m for cycleways

Saturday 09 September 1995 23:02 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

BRITAIN is to get a 6,000-mile traffic-free national cycle network thanks to the National Lottery, viewers of the lottery draw on BBC1 learned last night.

The scheme, brainchild of the Bristol-based civil engineering charity Sustrans, has been awarded pounds 42.5m of lottery cash by the Millennium Commission, the quango sponsoring projects to mark the arrival of the year 2000. It will cost pounds 100m in all.

The first group of 30 projects to be awarded funds from the commission's pounds 1.6bn will be announced tomorrow, but the BBC jumped the gun last night to reveal what is expected to be one of the largest awards. Viewers saw a cycle-shaped cheque for pounds 42.5m handed to the director of Sustrans, John Grimshaw, by the rock singer Meatloaf. The rest of the money will come from local authorities and donations.

The network of traffic-free cycle paths, traffic-calmed minor roads and carefully engineered urban cycle lanes will pass through almost every major population centre in the country. Its supporters believe it could have a huge beneficial impact on health, pollution, and road safety. The Department of Transport has promised special help to enable it to cross trunk roads.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in