Peak District welcomes £1.25m cycling scheme

Peak District National Park has been singled out to become the first rural area in Britain to receive government funding to promote cycling.

A cash injection of £1.25 million from Cycling England is to be used to transform the park into a "haven for leisure and commuting cyclists".

The independent body has launched the initiative, which is funded by the Department of Transport, as part of plans to branch out its existing Cycling Towns and Cities initiative to rural areas.

"Cycling England believes the Peak District National Park can become a flagship project demonstrating a model that other rural areas can use to encourage more people to go cycling on a regular basis," said Richard Campen, manager of the project.

"The national park is a huge asset and this project gives us a real opportunity to develop a generation of cyclists who cycle regularly, with all the health benefits that brings."

A written proposal of how the cash will be invested in promoting cycling is to be submitted to Cycling England and members of its services committee will then consider the plans.

The funding has to be spent by 2011.

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