British Cycling Welcomes £0.5K Government Funding

Last updated : 17 February 2015 By Covsupport News Service

British Cycling have issued a press statement welcoming an announcement OF £0,5M to be invested into cycling facilities in Yorkshire,

The announcement was made by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, who visited the Tour De France in Leeds last year and sees funding coming as a part of a wider £800k package to help promote the first ver Tour de Yorkshire which starts in May.

The money will go towards constructing a number of closed road circuits across Yorkshire, with the sites designed to help increase cycling participation

British Cycling CEO, Ian Drake, welcomed today’s announcement and said: “British Cycling has a proven record of delivering good value for investment in cycling facilities so today's announcement by Deputy Prime Minister is great news for the sport and great news for Yorkshire.

“Expanding the network of traffic free cycling facilities has been a key ambition for British Cycling and we are continually supporting and investing in projects to offer cycling opportunities for all.

“Traffic free facilities are vital to increasing participation in cycling and we will continue to work with funding partners to support projects, large and small, nationwide.”

Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, said: “Yorkshire wore the yellow jersey with pride last year, with an incredible staging of the Tour de France Grand Depart. The Tour de Yorkshire this summer is the perfect opportunity to build on this lasting legacy, attracting visitors again, which in turn will boost business in the region.

“Through my Northern Futures initiative, we have already announced £10 million to back proposals for a co-ordinated tourism strategy in the North. This further funding will ensure the Tour de Yorkshire gets international attention on a grand scale, whilst investment for new facilities will help the sport grow so that everyone can enjoy cycling.”

Minister for Sport and Tourism, Helen Grant, also welcomed the announcement and said: “British Cycling has been a great success story in recent years and I want the sport to continue to grow at all levels. This funding will not only strengthen cycling in Yorkshire but also promote the area to tourists through the first Tour de Yorkshire this Spring.”