Safe Westminster walking and cycling route to go ahead
Issued on: Thursday 9 February, 2012
A half a million pound project to provide a safer, traffic-free walking and cycling route from Paddington Basin to Maida Vale will go ahead following an agreement signed between the project partners yesterday [Wednesday 8 February, 2012].
The agreement between charity Sustrans and City of Westminster confirms their commitment to creating a safe crossing over the very busy Harrow Road and underneath the A40.
Carl Pittam, Sustrans' London Director, says; 'This is an important step forward in the development of this new route that will give people more choice about how they make short local journeys.
'Once its complete, people on foot or bike will be able to use the route to access Paddington Station, and get between work, school and home in more active and healthy ways. It's a vital link for local people.'
Construction work will begin immediately and is due to finish in May, when the route will open for use.
Cllr Lee Rowley, cabinet member for parking and transport, said: 'We warmly welcome Sustrans as a partner to open up another cycling route in the heart of London. Ensuring cyclists can get around our busy city efficiently and safely is very important to Westminster and this is another step towards achieving this.'
Funding for the route has come from Sustrans' lottery-funding, secured in 2007 as part of a national project extending the National Cycle Network into communities across the UK, as well as City of Westminster, Transport for London and other developer contributions.
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NOTES
Sustrans is the charity that's enabling people to travel by foot, bike or public transport for more of the journeys we make every day. Our work makes it possible for people to choose healthier, cleaner and cheaper journeys, with better places and spaces to move through and live in. It's time we all began making smarter travel choices. Make your move and support Sustrans today. www.sustrans.org.uk
Sustrans' Connect2 is a UK-wide project that will transform local travel in communities, creating new bridges and crossings to overcome busy roads, rivers and railways, and linking these to networks of walking and cycling routes, making it easier for millions of people to walk and cycle for everyday journeys.
Sustrans' Connect2 won £50 million from the Big Lottery Fund's Living Landmarks: The People's Millions as a result of a public vote televised on ITV1 in December 2007. This is the largest ever single lottery grant. Combined with match funding, the project is worth £142million.
The Big Lottery Fund, the largest of the National Lottery good cause distributors, has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK since its inception in June 2004. It was established by Parliament on 1 December 2006.
Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 020 7211 1888. out of hours: 07867 500 572. Full details of Big Lottery Fund projects and grant awards are available at: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
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