Vote For Dover - And Help Connect2 A Slice Of £50 Million Lottery Money

An exciting opportunity to help bring a slice of a £50 million Big Lottery Fund grant to Dover starts today - with the chance to get online to support Sustrans' Connect2 and transform walking and cycling in our region.

Online voting has been launched for the Big Lottery Fund's: The People's £50 Million. You can vote online now at www.thepeoples50million.org.uk.

Connect2 is competing against three other organisations, with the winner being decided by public vote. Seventy-nine communities around the UK, including Dover, would benefit from the sustainable transport charity Sustrans winning the £50 million grant. Connect2 is working to bring new local travel routes to the doorstep, making it easier for millions of people, locally and across the UK, to walk and cycle for everyday journeys.

Proposals for Dover would open up the River Dour for pedestrians and cyclists, connecting outlying parts of the town to the town centre and the seafront. Dover Pride partners KCC and DDC have put together the plans, which include a new pedestrian and cycle bridge across the river at London Road/Buckland Mill, upgraded road crossings, public art, improvements to the path, and the chance to create further riverside pathway.

TV presenter Lorraine Kelly is leading the Connect2 bid, along with former minister Charles Clarke. Connect2 is also supported by author Bill Bryson, designer Wayne Hemingway and actor Alistair McGowan, among others. Each of the bids will be highlighted in programmes on ITV1 in the week commencing 3 December. Sustrans' Connect2 will be featured on 4 December. Internet voting started at 9am today (26 November) and closes at noon Monday 10 December. Telephone voting will be over the weekend 7-10 December. The winner will be announced on 12 December.

For more information about Connect2 visit www.sustransconnect2.org.uk. You can also register to be sent the number to vote by phone as soon as it is known on 7 December.