As one of 79 projects, which countrywide made up the Sustrans bid, it means that this district will get £500,000 to fund the creation of the Bilton to Ripley route.

 

Councillor Michael Harrison, who chaired the local steering group, says that many people have worked hard to achieve this magnificent result.  He said:  "This is just the best news ever.  Our scheme was one of 400, originally shortlisted to become part of the Connect2 bid by Sustrans, so our first battle was to make sure we were in it.  Then, when Connect2 got down to the final four bids being put forward for the public vote, Sustrans were up against stiff competition from the likes of the Eden Project and Sherwood Forest.  So all that hard work has paid off.

 

"I want to say a huge thank you to everyone involved because without their efforts it could have so easily gone the other way.  I also want to thank everyone who voted for us."

 

Partners in all the projects will now begin the process of working with the Big Lottery Fund to establish the timetable for funding. 

 

Councillor Don Mackenzie, Cabinet Member for Transport and Planning at Harrogate Borough Council, said:  "Although this lottery bid had been a long drawn out process, it has had a number of advantages.  It has been an unprecedented opportunity for positive public consultation and every scheme now has that most precious ingredient of strong, local support with a large number of individuals committed to seeing the scheme realised. 

 

"Colleagues at North Yorkshire County Council and our own transport team have backed this bid because without the lottery funding it was highly unlikely that the route could ever have been financed locally.