Countdown Begins For Connect2 Bid for Pontypridd
November 22, 2007 « Previous Page — Next Page »
The countdown is underway for the chance of a share of £50million to improve cycling and walking routes in Treforest and Pontypridd.
Supporters will have the opportunity to vote via a website from Monday November 26th and on Friday December 7th a special telephone hotline will be available to the public.
The scheme has been included in the 79 community projects submitted from around the UK that make up sustainable transport charity Sustrans Connect2 bid for lottery funding, which has now reached the final four in a shortlist of applicants.
Connect2 is competing for a single £50million pound grant from the Big Lottery Fund’s Living Landmarks: The People’s £50 Million Lottery Giveaway. The winner will be decided by a public vote, live on ITV1, in December.
To raise the profile of the campaign, Connect2 are holding a major event on Sunday November 25th and hope plenty of people will get involved to celebrate the links between Trevithick Bridge in Merthyr Tydfil and Treforest.
A 14-mile cycle ride will take place along the Trevithick and Taff Trails from the Trevithick Bridge Scheme to the Treforest Scheme.
The event starts at 11.30am at Pentrebach Co-op and will finish at around 1.30pm at the University of Glamorgan campus in Treforest.
For further details contact Rebecca Robinson on 07880 716070 or to register your support for Connect2 visit www.sustransconnect2.org.uk.
Connect2’s bid involves a UK-wide vision for improving health and the environment and having safer communities, cleaner air and a better quality of life. These include new walkways, cycle paths and new bridges in areas where few pedestrian walks exist.
The proposals for the Pontypridd scheme include the provision of a bridge across the railway line at the University of Glamorgan’s Treforest campus to provide a link to residential areas and the University’s Glyntaff campus to the east. The bridge would be supported by improvements to the wider walking and cycling network throughout Treforest and the provision of an off road route to Tonteg.
Improved links will also be provided to Pontypridd town centre, the education facilities of Coleg Morgannwg in Rhydyfelin, leisure facilities of Ynysyngharad Park and the wider National Cycle Network.
Councillor Eudine Hanagan, Cabinet Member for Better Public Services and Transport said, “It’s extremely exciting for such an innovative project within Rhondda Cynon Taf to have this opportunity to be part of the UK-wide Connect2 bid and we must do all we can to support it.
“The scheme would be a huge boost to what is already a beautiful environment and for Pontypridd generally, by improving walking and cycling links within Treforest, between the University of Glamorgan’s campuses and surrounding residential, employment and shopping areas.
“We really need you to show your support now and help towards Connect2 winning the bid and I hope plenty of people will get involved in this fun way of celebrating the links between Merthyr Tydfil and Rhondda Cynon Taf.”
Each of the four projects will be the subject of a television programme on ITV1 on the week commencing December 3rd. Sustrans Connect2 will be featured on Tuesday December 4th and voting will take place online and by phone vote following the TV shows.
Online voting will open at 9am on November 26th at www.thepeoples50million.org.uk and telephone voting will take place on the weekend of December 7th to 10th.
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