Supported
by a £43.5 million grant from the Millennium commission,
the Network involves the active participation of more than 400
local authorities, the Department of the Environment, Transport
and the Regions, and other public and private bodies.
The
Network will comprise a linked series of traffic-free paths
and traffic-calmed and minor roads connecting urban centres
and the countryside, and reaching all parts of the UK. These
will provide a safe, attractive, high quality network for cycles
and major new amenity for walkers and wheelchair users.
More
than 5,000 miles will be signed and mapped by June 2000, with
the whole 9,000 miles completed by 2005. The Network will connect
with thousands of further extensions.
The
Network provides a focus of activity for local authorities;
major landowning and countryside bodies; public and private
transport interests; environrmental concerns; protection of
the countryside; health, sport and disability; all metropolitan
and major cities; transport and planning professionals; domestic
and inbound tourism; corporate support; public events and volunteering;
charitable and community involvement; Safe Routes to Schools;
sculpture, public art and design; millennium celebrations.