LOCAL LOTTERY PROJECT BIDS NEED YOUR HELP!

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 5th Dec 2007

Local Euro MP Liz Lynne is calling on people to support one of two bids for lottery funding which will improve parts of the West Midlands region. The final round of National Lottery's 'People's Giveaway', consists of four projects and the winner of a popular vote will receive £50 million in funding.

One project, Sustrans Connect2, is UK-wide project improving local travel in 79 communities by creating new and improved walking and cycling routes for everyday journeys, for example by building bridges over busy roads or rivers. Projects in the region are in Hereford, Shrewsbury, Worcester, Birmingham and Sutton Coldfield, Kenilworth and Rugby.

The other project is more concentrated in area and aims to transform the Black Country into an 'Urban Park', with large-scale environmental transformation taking in natural built and historic assets. It will include tourism, waterways and green areas, aiming to make the Black Country a dynamic and desirable place in which to live, work, invest and visit.

Liz Lynne said:

"This is a great opportunity for us to benefit from one of two ambitious projects. With two of the four finalists offering new investment into the West Midlands we stand a good chance.

"Both projects look excellent and have their own merits, one to revitalise a former area of heavy industry and one helping to make local journeys more green and convenient across the country and either would be a worthy winner.

"I would not dream of telling people which to vote for, but if enough of us make the effort to vote, the winner could bring a welcome boost to our fantastic region."

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

More information on the projects and online voting at: http://www.thepeoples50million.org.uk/home

Online voting is possible now until 1200 on the 10th of December. Phone voting starts at 0900 on Friday the 7th of December.