Council Urges Strabane To Get Behind Bridge Project

By Paul McElwee

EVERYONE in Strabane is being urged to back Strabane's bid to win money for a new bridge project.

At a launch on Friday the District Council and Strabane 2000 publicly appealed for everyone to go online to support the town's Sustrans' Connect2 bridge project.

The aim of the bridge project is to transform walking and cycling across the river Mourne in Strabane.

Chairman of Strabane 2000 project, Jarlath McNulty, said "Sustrans Connect2 project does not just contain Strabane. It is a project that covers 79 communities around the UK, including Strabane, so it is not just us that people are voting for.

"There is a £50 million grant available, and there are three projects up for the money, Sustrans is only one of them.

"We would ask the people, not only in Strabane, but all over the north, to get behind the bid and vote for Sustrans. We are the only place in the North to be involved in the project, so all the support that we can get from the people of Strabane and the North, the better chance we have of getting the money."

The idea behind the project is to hep build facilities such as bridges, foot and cycle paths, and allowing people easier and healthier access to their schools, workplaces, shops, parks and countryside.

All 79 places involved in the Sustrans project will benefit from the sustainable transport charity winning the £50 million grant in the Big Lottery Fund's: The People's £50 Million contest in December. Connect2 is competing against 3 other organisations, with the winner being decided by public vote.

The bid has even attracted some well-known names to its cause, Broadcaster Jon Snow (Channel 4 News) and morning television presenter Lorraine Kelly, former minister Charles Clarke, author Bill Bryson, designer Wayne Hemingway and actor Alistair McGowan, among others are all behind the bid, urging people to vote for Sustrans.

There are three ways that people can vote for the Sustrans project. Firstly, it is possible to vote by phone on 0845 0581373, you can vote now. Or if texting is your thing, then text connect2 to 80010. Voting via the web is also a possibility, with voting having started on Monday. The website that people can vote on is www.sustransconnect2.org.uk.

Finally, Strabane will feature on a series of programmes dedicated to the three organisations who are in the running will take place in December. The Sustrans bid will be on ITV1 on 4 December. The winner will be announced on 12 December.