AN ambitious £4 million project to develop unused sites along the River Lune for the year 2000 has sailed closer to success. Lancaster City Council's Riverside Park bid is one of 119 schemes selected by the Millennium Commission to stake a share in the £4.3 billion pot to celebrate the turn of the century. Nationally the Commission received 1,011 bids but only 119 projects have gone on to the detailed appraisal stage and lucky Lancaster is one of them.

"I'm extremely pleased," said Cllr Jean Yates, who is backing the plan.

"This innovative project combines the very best of Lancaster's artistic and heritage features."

The River Lune bid is for just over £2 million, half of the estimated cost, and if the plan gets the go ahead there would be a whole host of different developments centred around the river including extensive cycleways, a historical footpath and a new cycle and pedestrian bridge.

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