From the Bath Chronicle
The number for people to ring to back an ambitious scheme to drive a new cyclepath south of Bath has been revealed.
The Two Tunnels initiative is part of the environmental organisation Sustrans's Connect2 project - which is in the running for ú50 million of lottery money.
The project is the favourite of the four bids for the lottery cash, with the choice being made via a phone and internet poll.
Internet voting has already started and today (FRIDAY), a phone poll began.
To support the scheme, ring 0870 2424 602.
Calls from a BT landline cost a maximum of 10p and the line closes at noon on Monday, December 10.
The Sustrans Connect2 project would see the Two Tunnels Greenway scheme linking the Bath-Bristol cycle way to Colliers Way at Midford.
A host of similar projects would be carried out around the UK as part of Connect2, revitalising walking and cycling in 79 communities by creating new routes.
Crossings and bridges would be created over busy roads, railway lines and rivers, linking to new networks of local paths.
The Two Tunnels scheme, which hopes to win ú1.1 million of Lottery cash, has already passed its first hurdle by securing planning permission, and people are now being urged to vote in The People's ú50m Lottery Giveaway.
Two Tunnels group spokesman Matt Skidmore said there had been cheers when planning permission was granted last Wednesday.
He said: "It was passed unanimously with a few conditions relating to the environment.
"One of the conditions is that a bat survey is carried out in the tunnels because we need to make sure that they are protected."
Bookmaker William Hill says the Connect2 bid has attracted a number of bets.
It currently has the Connect2 project at 6-5 favourite, ahead of rivals The Eden Project in Cornwall, a scheme for Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire and a project to revitalise the Black Country.
Online voting can be done at www.thepeoples50million.org.uk .
Results will be announced next Wednesday.
TV presenter Lorraine Kelly championed Connect2 in a programme on ITV1 on Tuesday.
But there has been criticism that the ITV programmes designed to showcase the bids have been shown at a time when few people are watching - each bid has a 11.05pm time slot.
Gill Harrison, Sustrans spokeswoman, said: "We don't think that the programmes are going out at an ideal time.
"We would have liked to seen them go out at peak time because there is such a large amount of money involved."
The scheme has caught the imagination of people in and around Bath with Blindmans Brewery in Frome brewing a Two Tunnels beer, aptly called Last Mile.
The beer has gone down well with drinkers including those at The Raven in Queen Street, the Royal Oak in Twerton and the Hope and Anchor at Midford.
Tim Perry, landlord of The Raven and Two Tunnels treasurer, said: "A lot of people have asked us to keep it after the decision.
"It is a lovely beer and we had to have a second batch because we ran out in three days.
"Connect2 is favourite to win but people shouldn't be complacent.
"Anyone thinking that they don't need to vote because we're going to win needs to vote because it isn't a foregone conclusion."
The Two Tunnels - an Update
This would be great. I had a walk around Midford the other day, never been there before, for a tiny little place its odd that it has 2 railway viaducts crossing each other & at the bottom is the dried up bed of the somerset coal canal, you wouldnt believe stuff that must have gone through such a tiny place.
It will make a great bike ride one day, 2 viaducts to cross (Midford & Tucking Mill) then through 2 long tunnels before arriving at Bath for a few beers.
It will make a great bike ride one day, 2 viaducts to cross (Midford & Tucking Mill) then through 2 long tunnels before arriving at Bath for a few beers.