MTBrider
November 29-2005, 04:31 PM
Several months ago the fully funded CAAN proposals for off road cycling trail development got killed off by Forest Services refusal to engage in a meaningful way. This lead to the loss of nearly £3m pounds worth of inward investment that would have gone directly into our forests to build trails and help to develop rural economies, tourism and environmental activities.
Interesting then that Lord Rooker, the man in charge of Forest Services is now inviting applications to help spend nearly £3m pounds worth of government funding earmarked for the development of environmental and rural activities.
According to a BBC report: The government has £3m to boost rural development, but applicants have only three weeks to apply for the money.
The cash was earmarked for a project which has fallen through, and Lord Rooker urged relevant bodies to apply.
He said bodies engaged in developing environmental activities or those interested in developing tourism and craft activities could take advantage.
"This opportunity to bid has become available as a result of decommittment of funds," he said.
He said the competition was designed to address both the "needs and the opportunities for specific sectors of the rural economy, environment or society".
"In particular the department is keen to receive well-developed proposals from organisations representing or targeting women, youth, the long-term unemployed, farmers and farm families," he said.
He said that the initial expression of interest forms have to be lodged by 16 December.
CAAN spent several years putting together their highly detailed proposals, gathering the required funding and conducting several feasabilities studies with leading accountancy firms (all of which gave the project the go ahead). Regardless Rooker and his merry men turned the project down without serious consideration and so the money was lost. Anyone now wanting to access this funding has less than three weeks to do the same job. A tall order in anyones book.
It is worth mentioning also that many members of Club MTBrider have been in touch with Mr. Rookers office by letter and email over the last few months questioning exactly why he threw the CAAN proposals out and what he plans to replace them with, however to date nothing of any substance has been forthcoming in the way of a proper reply, save several hundred standard "cut n paste" letters all of which competely fail to address our issues.
Rest assured however that we will not give up until at the very least Mr. Rooker has granted us at least one of our many requests and given us a face to face meeting, whereby he can explain in person why the people of NI are treated like 2nd class citizens to those in the rest of the UK regards off road cycling facilities.
Interesting then that Lord Rooker, the man in charge of Forest Services is now inviting applications to help spend nearly £3m pounds worth of government funding earmarked for the development of environmental and rural activities.
According to a BBC report: The government has £3m to boost rural development, but applicants have only three weeks to apply for the money.
The cash was earmarked for a project which has fallen through, and Lord Rooker urged relevant bodies to apply.
He said bodies engaged in developing environmental activities or those interested in developing tourism and craft activities could take advantage.
"This opportunity to bid has become available as a result of decommittment of funds," he said.
He said the competition was designed to address both the "needs and the opportunities for specific sectors of the rural economy, environment or society".
"In particular the department is keen to receive well-developed proposals from organisations representing or targeting women, youth, the long-term unemployed, farmers and farm families," he said.
He said that the initial expression of interest forms have to be lodged by 16 December.
CAAN spent several years putting together their highly detailed proposals, gathering the required funding and conducting several feasabilities studies with leading accountancy firms (all of which gave the project the go ahead). Regardless Rooker and his merry men turned the project down without serious consideration and so the money was lost. Anyone now wanting to access this funding has less than three weeks to do the same job. A tall order in anyones book.
It is worth mentioning also that many members of Club MTBrider have been in touch with Mr. Rookers office by letter and email over the last few months questioning exactly why he threw the CAAN proposals out and what he plans to replace them with, however to date nothing of any substance has been forthcoming in the way of a proper reply, save several hundred standard "cut n paste" letters all of which competely fail to address our issues.
Rest assured however that we will not give up until at the very least Mr. Rooker has granted us at least one of our many requests and given us a face to face meeting, whereby he can explain in person why the people of NI are treated like 2nd class citizens to those in the rest of the UK regards off road cycling facilities.