Active Travel projects get funding

THE council areas of Londonderry and Strabane are to benefit from a share of £4.3 million through the Active Travel Demonstration Projects being spearheaded by Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy.

Derry City Council was granted £1.3 million when proposals were put forward to create new traffic free greenways to enhance accessibility between schools, businesses and residential areas to serve to make cycling and walking within the city an attractive option for everyone, while promoting healthy living and social wellbeing.

Meanwhile, Strabane District Council successfully bid for a £873,000 grant funding to develop walking and cycling routes which will include a bridge across the River Mourne. The proposed bridge will open up the town and remove the physical divide between the town centre and residential areas, schools, shops, sport and leisure facilities andchurches.

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The projects have been given the green light thanks to Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy, who has awarded a £4.3million investment package to four local councils to promote Active Travel Demonstration Projects. The other two council areas are Belfast and Craigavon.

The local investment comes as a result of a competition inviting all councils in Northern Ireland to submit proposals for funding to develop projects to enhance and improve active travel, such as walking and cycling. The successful proposals which came from Belfast City Council, Craigavon Borough Council, Derry City Council and Strabane District Council, are considered to have great potential to become flagship demonstration projects.

“My Department is committed to helping rebalance our transport infrastructure and promote walking and cycling as realistic and healthy alternative means of transport, particularly for people making short journeys in urban areas,” said Mr Kennedy.

“I am very grateful to all the councils who responded and put so much effort into their submissions. I congratulate the four successful councils and I am confident that their particular schemes will inspire all of us to consider how we travel and the effects our choices have on the environment.”

The competition was launched in January and a total of 13 applications were received by the May closing date.