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Routes scheme tops lottery vote Routes scheme tops lottery vote
(about 3 hours later)
A scheme to build a national network of cycle and walking routes has won a £50m lottery grant by topping a public vote.A scheme to build a national network of cycle and walking routes has won a £50m lottery grant by topping a public vote.
The Sustrans: Connect2 project, which will improve travel in 79 communities, beat three other environmental groups with 42% of all ballots cast.The Sustrans: Connect2 project, which will improve travel in 79 communities, beat three other environmental groups with 42% of all ballots cast.
The People's £50 Million Lottery is the largest ever publicly-decided award.The People's £50 Million Lottery is the largest ever publicly-decided award.
Sustrans CEO and founder John Grimshaw said: "The hard work starts now to build those bridges, tunnels, crossings and networks of paths."Sustrans CEO and founder John Grimshaw said: "The hard work starts now to build those bridges, tunnels, crossings and networks of paths."
He added: "There are 79 towns and settlements which are just going to be changed, I think, out of all recognition."
Sustainable transportSustainable transport
He added: "There are 79 towns and settlements which are just going to be changed, I think, out of all recognition. Mr Grimshaw said six million people lived within a mile of the scheme's new routes.
Mr Grimshaw said 6m people live within a mile of the scheme's new routes.
It is going to affect their lives right across the UK Sir Clive BoothBig Lottery FundIt is going to affect their lives right across the UK Sir Clive BoothBig Lottery Fund
But three other green projects will receive nothing - Eden Project: The Edge; Sherwood: The Living Legend; and Black Country Urban Park.But three other green projects will receive nothing - Eden Project: The Edge; Sherwood: The Living Legend; and Black Country Urban Park.
ITV featured each of the four proposed initiatives, and members of the public were able to vote by phone and online before the poll ended on Monday.ITV featured each of the four proposed initiatives, and members of the public were able to vote by phone and online before the poll ended on Monday.
The £50m will be handed to Sustrans - a sustainable transport charity - for the Connect2 scheme over five years from 2008.The £50m will be handed to Sustrans - a sustainable transport charity - for the Connect2 scheme over five years from 2008.
The project will cost a total of £140m and aims to link up previously severed communities with cycle paths and walkways.The project will cost a total of £140m and aims to link up previously severed communities with cycle paths and walkways.
Sir Clive Booth, chair of the Big Lottery Fund, which allocates Lottery grants, said the Sustrans project had topped the poll convincingly.Sir Clive Booth, chair of the Big Lottery Fund, which allocates Lottery grants, said the Sustrans project had topped the poll convincingly.
"It really won hands-down. What did it was that public support was terrific," he said."It really won hands-down. What did it was that public support was terrific," he said.
"Given there were four projects, getting half the vote was a big achievement. I think it has captured people's imaginations because it is going to affect their lives right across the UK.""Given there were four projects, getting half the vote was a big achievement. I think it has captured people's imaginations because it is going to affect their lives right across the UK."