Press Release

“Connect 2 will Knock Out Competition” - John Duddy

7th December 2007

Telephone voting lines have opened this morning, Friday 7th December, for the £50 million Big Lottery giveaway public vote. The phone lines are now open so please call 0870 24 24 602.

Derry middleweight boxing champion John Duddy took time ahead of his crucial match tomorrow, Saturday 8th December, to give his support to the Sustrans Connect 2 project, which is set to gain £1.2m for the Derry’s walkways and cycle pathways.

Derry City Council has been working in partnership with Ilex and Sustrans to deliver Derry ~ Londonderry Connecting People 2 Place project to improve community and leisure connectivity across the city. The project will deliver a high quality walkway link for pedestrians and cyclists along the east bank of the River Foyle.

Giving the initiative his support, John Duddy said,

“This is a fantastic project but it needs our support!! As a person who trains on a daily basis, I appreciate what it means to have top class facilities on hand to help maintain fitness as well as providing a sense of wellbeing.

“A vote for the Connect 2 project is a vote for connecting communities and enhancing outdoor activity across the city so I would encourage everyone to pick up the phone and make that one call this weekend that could make a significant difference to the city’s future.”

The Sustran’s Connect 2 project is set to link into the proposed new cycle and footbridge across the river encouraging more physical activity and enabling users to make happier, healthier everyday journeys.

The city stands to gain £1.2million if the Sustrans Connect 2 project receives enough public votes to win a slice of the People’s £50 million fund. However, Sustrans Connect 2 is the only UK- wide project, which aims to revitalise walkways and cycle paths and connect people to each other and their local environment throughout 79 regions.

You can vote for Connect2 in two ways. Online voting is available via www.thepeoples50million.org and by telephone on call 0870 24 24 602. All voting can take place until Monday 10th December at 12 Noon.

Typetalk users should dial 18001 before the number. Maximum call charge 10p from a BT landline. Calls from mobiles and other operators may be higher. There is no charge for online entry but service provider charges may apply. Lines will close on midday Monday 10th December. For terms and conditions visit www.itv.com/terms

Please note that due to competition rules, one vote per telephone number (business or personal) will be counted.

ENDS

Notes to editor

Sustrans Connect2 is competing with three national projects to secure the public vote and win big lottery fund’s people’s £50million vote. This fund will support 79 UK nationwide practical cycling and walking projects.

Derry ~ Londonderry Connecting People 2 Place initiative is one of the 79 projects and if successful is set to receive one of the largest grant awards from the fund, (approximately £1.2 million) if we can secure the public vote. There are a further five projects throughout Northern Ireland who will also benefit; The Omagh Riverside path and new bridges, Newtownabbey to Belfast Lough; Dungannon Park Connections; Strabane River Mourne Bridge and Links and Ballymoney Railway Bridge and links. Over 179,000 people in Northern Ireland live within one mile of these schemes and over 6 million across the UK.

For additional information contact:

Press Office

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