Sunshine and smiles for Million Miles Launch

06 September 2012

THE sun shone, there was optimism in the air and smiles aplenty at the official launch of the Million Miles project.

Around 50 guests attended the launch, carried out by the Minister for the Environment and Climate Change Stewart Stevenson in North Kessock on 28 August.

Mr Stevenson was met by cyclists from Transition Black Isle and Velocity for a breezy two-wheeled trip across the Kessock Bridge from Inverness.

On reaching the pier he received a cheery greeting by pupils from North Kessock Primary School - who have recently completed their BikeAbility training - and members of Transition Black Isle.

TBI’s Million Miles project received £194,741 of funding from the Scottish Government’s Climate Challenge Fund (CCF) and aims to cut car travel by a million miles each year by promoting sustainable alternatives.

During the launch Mr Stevenson announced the latest round of CCF funding, which will see a further 17 projects throughout Scotland receive a total of £1.5M.
 

Mr Stevenson said: “Climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing the world today and, here in Scotland, we want to be part of the solution.  That’s why we set up the Climate Challenge Fund to support communities as they tackle climate change by reducing emissions through a range of innovative schemes.
 

“In North Kessock I’ve seen an example of a community pulling together to reduce their emissions. The residents of the Black Isle have set themselves an ambitious target to cut car travel by local residents by a million miles a year. It was great to meet some of the youngsters who will reap the rewards of this in years to come and see that they’re already developing the skills, confidence and experience they need to play their part.
 

“No single individual, group or even nation can solve the problem of climate change. But, by working together and with everyone playing their part, we can make a real and lasting difference.”

Transition Black Isle director Martin Sherring added: "We're keen to stress that more sustainable forms of travel can be more fun than driving, as well as the more obvious cost, health and climate change benefits.  That fits in perfectly with the Transition Black Isle agenda, which is essentially that we can’t carry on using fossil fuels as we do at present, so rather than pretending they’ll last for ever and that climate change is going to be just a minor inconvenience, we need to realise that a low carbon future could actually be a better future, and work towards it rather than fight it."
 

The launch attracted widespread media coverage, including articles in the Ross-shire Journal, Press and Journal, Inverness Courier, STV and BBC online. There were also items broadcast on BBC Radio Scotland, and TV reports on Reporting Scotland and BBC Alba.
 

Since the launch a reshuffle within the Scottish Government has seen Mr Stevenson replaced by Paul Wheelhouse, SNP MSP for south Scotland.