DESPITE being invited to bid for a portion of £2m set aside to improve cycling provision, Sevenoaks District Council failed to do so, the Chronicle can reveal.

But the council is at a loss to explain its choice, because the team which was responsible for such decisions has since changed.

The money being offered was part of a project run by Sustrans, a sustainable transport charity which has spent years creating cycle paths and facilities across the country. It runs a scheme called Connect2, which is financed by a £50m Big Lottery Fund grant.

The grant was given after the UK public voted the project the winner of the People's Millions Lottery contest on ITV1 in December 2007.

Kent secured £2m of the funding.

Sustrans' South East regional organiser David Young said: "All local councils were invited to bid for the money but Sevenoaks District Council failed to bid."

The money is now being spent on two projects – both of which are in the east of the county.

District council spokesman Steve Mandaluff said he did not know why the funding was not bid for.

"The council did not submit a bid for funding as part of the Sustrans project. However it did work with Sustrans, Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council and Penshurst Place to help fund a five-mile cycle route stretching from Tonbridge to Penshurst," he said.

Mr Mandaluff added the district council is working with Kent County Council, which is responsible for transport, to develop a Sevenoaks Transport Strategy.

He said the document was due to be completed in March, with public consultation to follow.

Offering advice to cyclists who want more facilities, Mr Young said: "If there is a move by the district and borough councils to have provision within their areas they can achieve that within their frameworks and local plans.

"Local authorities and councils don't tend to look to the future and they also react to what voters want so a lot can come from the public if they take the time to bash out a few emails or write a letter."