Focus On

Sustrans Connect2: Will it win the hearts of the general public – and £50 million to boot?
Autumn 2007

As featured in our recent news story, Sustrans' Connect2 has been shortlisted to battle it out against three other challengers in a televised competition this December. The prize? The 50 million squids-worth of National lottery money. The Connect2 team intend to spend the winnings on creating new walkways and cycle paths across the nation. 79 community projects have been chosen - from among 127 suggested by the general public – to provide direct local solutions for some of the UK’s most pressing transport issues, namely congestion, pollution, road safety and high car use for journeys under two miles.

We at Focus Towers have been working with Sustrans throughout 2007 to give them the web presence necessary to reach all communities involved with Connect2. The 79 schemes are spread throughout the UK so the website acts as the key focal point for all its supporters and a virtual information centre where anyone interested can find out more.

This is particularly important for the only contender not to be based around a single geographic location where various PR exercises can take place. The widespread nature of Connect2 is, however, one of its major appeals, being the only project that will affect people nationwide on a daily basis.

If successful, it’s estimated that Connect2 will pass within half a mile of:

• 3,280,000 people
• 1,426,000 households
• 1,355 schools
• 500,000 pupils
• 57 of the most deprived boroughs in the UK

and result in a potential:

• saving of 79,500 tonnes of CO2 from vehicle emissions
• total of 61.5 million trips a year made on Connect2 routes

(source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustrans)

In order to achieve all this, Connect2 needs your vote! Visit the site to find out more.