New grants to make cyclists welcome

A new project to develop off-road cycling facilities in the South West is offering businesses and community groups grants to improve the facilities and information to cyclists.

Dorset AONB joined up with other protected landscapes in the South West, through the South West Protected Landscapes Forum, to bid for RDPE funds to develop the off-road cycling experience in the AONB. Led by the Forestry Commission, the bid was successful in securing £7.5M across the region including funding of £4.6M from the Rural Development Programme for England.

Across the participating protected landscapes, cyclists will benefit from a web-mapper to help them plan routes based upon their cycling ability. Dorset AONB routes will be surveyed in autumn 2011.

New grant scheme

An important part of the Project is to make grants available to tourism businesses and community organisations to make bike-friendly improvements such as a secure bike lock ups for a B&B. The investment pot stands at £160,000 for the whole South West and is available for spend between 2011 and 2013.

Around £10,000 will be made available to projects that improve facilities for cyclists within the Dorset AONB. It is essential that bids will directly benefit visitors and / or the wider cycling public.The grant will cover up to 50% of costs, paid in arrears.

There are two windows to apply, with deadlines of 30th September 2011 and 30th March 2012. The application form is a simple side of A4 outlining the bid plus a financial summary.

Priority will be given to those bids that meet the aims of the 1SW business plan and Dorset AONB Management Plan.

For more information

If you would like more information or are interested in applying and want to discuss your idea further, please contact Ian Rees, Dorset AONB Countryside Officer on 01305 228235 or i.rees@dorsetcc.gov.uk..