Communities Living Sustainably

I was recently invited on behalf of OVCN to contribute ideas for an Action In Rural Sussex/Lewes District Council/Community 21/Newhaven Community Development Association bid for a "Communities Living Sustainably" Lottery fund application. I was impressed at the range of very good ideas from all the organisations represented at this meeting. The following resume of the proposed positive benefits from the promotion of the Ouse Valley Cycle Network for local sustainable communites was submitted:

The vision of the Ouse Valley Cycle Network is for safe shared sustainable village connections from County Town to Channel Port. The SDNPA have supported OVCN efforts to develop sustainable access, through a European gateway, to the South Downs National Park.

Promoting sustainable tourism through sustainable transport offers positive economic, social and environmental opportunities.Taking a pragmatic approach. Making the most of existing resources. Working with the Environment Agency as they repair flood defences. Developing, alongside Sustrans, integrated local sustainable transport solutions for Lewes, Newhaven and Ouse valley regeneration. Making the Ouse valley a beacon of sustainable development.

This big picture also has a very human face... Making sustainable living fun... making the most of valuable human energy... OVCN has committed representatives from all Ouse valley communities where good consultation has proved that our project has great popular appeal: Working together towards this shared goal is already creating better connected sustainable Ouse valley communities.

Encouraging green living: Cycling is more fun than recycling... OVCN will encourage the ingenuity of local communities towards making smart sustainable transport choices... By promoting the economic and environmental benefits of cycling we will also be encouraging broader environmental awareness.

No follow up so far... Hoping that now the first stage of the Ouse Valley Cycle Network from Lewes to Kingston has the go ahead from the Transport Ministry we’ll be invited to get involved if this bid is successful...

www.ruralsussex.org.uk, www.ncda.org.uk, www.lewes.gov.uk, www.community21.org