Southend wins Euro-wide bike bonanza!
Published Wednesday 15th June 11 in Council - news and information releases news
Cycling in Southend has achieved a spectacular boost after winning a special bid for European funding and support for bike projects.
In addition to this €545,000 Bike Friendly Cities grant, Southend-on-Sea Borough Council now joins other partners from the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Cambridgeshire and the Sustrans charity organisation to share best practice in cycling-related matters.
This new project aims to:
- convert the very popular Recycle Centre into a social enterprise. In addition to recycling discarded bikes to give them new life, and training people in bike maintenance. It will also become more of a hub offering advice and assistance for cycling and sustainable travel
- to set up stakeholder groups to help develop campaigns promoting healthy lifestyles
- to fill some of the gaps in the cycle network in Southend
Southend-on-Sea Borough Council's Executive Councillor for Public Protection, Waste and Transport, Councillor Tony Cox said: "This is great news. The funding will enable us to continue and expand the work started during the successful Cycle Southend project,
"As a Cycling Demonstration Town Southend is really encouraging and enhancing cycling opportunities, developing cycle safety for children and young people throughout the borough, and helping many more people of all ages back into the saddle, for a healthier lifestyle and more sustainable means of transport.
"We look forward to working jointly with European partners on cycling developments."