TELEPHONE voting is about to open in a Lottery competition that could bring huge rewards for Northwich… and you can help!

Everyone is being asked to pick up the phone and help save the important Riversdale pedestrian footbridge which links Leftwich with Castle and Greenbank.

The bridge, accessed from The Crescent, near Sir John Deane’s College, was closed on safety grounds three years ago and is in urgent need of repair.

Now it has been put forward into a TV show being aired this week to win National Lottery funding.

The bridge repair is part of a bigger project called ‘Sustrans Connect2’ which hopes to revitalise walking and cycling in 79 communities across the UK.

TV presenter Lorraine Kelly is championing the ‘Sustrans Connect2’ bid which appeared on the television on Tuesday.

The bid is up against three other projects being featured throughout the week and viewers will be asked to vote for the most worthy cause which will win the funding during a finale programme this Friday.

People are also now able to vote for Sustrans Connect2 online by visiting www.thepeoples50million.org.uk to register a vote.

This week community leaders have got behind the campaign.

John Hulme, campaign manager of the Riversdale Bridge Campaign, said: “The Weaver Valley Team has worked hard to get the Riversdale Bridge as a contender in this fourway People’s 50 Million Lottery Competition.

“It is NOW up to the people of Mid Cheshire to log on over the next few days and support them by voting for the Sustrans Connect2 Project. We need your vote NOW to save the Riversdale Bridge. There is only one winner and that must be Sustrans Connect2.”

David Roberts, a governor of Sir John Deane’s College, said: “The reinstatement of the Riversdale Bridge would create a safe, convenient and traffic- free connection between the two sides of Northwich – linking Leftwich with Castle and Greenbank.

“As well as the leisure aspects, it is important because it opens up accessibility to the town’s educational campuses which means that young people can walk or cycle in safety.”

Cllr Les Ford, leader of Vale Royal Borough Council, said: “This is a vital crossing along the river for people on foot. We cannot allow this bridge to rot and decay – so I would encourage everyone who uses, or knows of the bridge, to vote for Sustrans Connect2.”

College principal Andrew Jones said: “It would be fantastic to see the bridge open again – Sir John Deane’s College is 100%behind the campaign. We would urge as many people as possible to vote to repair this beautiful crossing which will again open up a picturesque and important route for the community.”

Mid Cheshire College principal John Reilly said: “Reopening the bridge is critical to our Green Travel Plan, which encourages students to walk, cycle or take public transport to our campuses. We have many students at the Hartford Campus who live at Kingsmead and Leftwich and many at our London Road Art Studios who live this side of the Weaver. A vote for the Riversdale Bridge is a green vote that will allow those students to either walk or cycle to college.”

Weaver Vale MP Mike Hall said: “I want everyone to vote for the Connect2 project. If this project wins, a new iconic swing-bridge over the Weaver Navigation will replace the old footbridge. This will reopen the footpath and cycle network across the Weaver Navigation. Local residents will once again be able to walk or cycle to local schools and colleges.”