Rosie Winerton MP, announced a £32,000 grant to provide cycle training for 800 school children across Kirklees, on a visit to Whitechapel Middle School in Cleckheaton, on Monday.

The government hopes the grant, which is part of the record £140m package announced in January, will give up to half a million 10 to 11 year-olds 'Bikeability' cycle training by 2012.

Ms Winterton, who is also Minister for Yorkshire and the Humber, said the training which gives children the skills and confidence to cycle safely on today's busy roads, should enable them to undertake short journeys like cycling to school.

She said: "I'm delighted to be able to confirm that Kirklees Council's cycle training has received Bikeability accreditation - encouraging cycling also encourages healthier lifestyles.
"Considering obesity now affects around one quarter of adults and one in 10 children, encouraging people to take exercise has ever been more important.

"At the same time, congestion is getting worse. If parents can be satisfied their children can cycle safely they are more likely to let them use their bike. And getting children cycling could even encourage their parents to dust off their own bikes."

Ms Winterton, who rode her bike from the school into the centre of Cleckheaton, said: "I'm pleased that Mrs Garland and local MP Mike Wood invited me here today so I could see for myself just how good the Spen Valley Greenway is, and I believe it is the busiest cycle path in the country."

Spen MP Mike Wood, who was instrumental in preserving the former railway line and creating the greenway, said he was impressed with how many pupils cycle to school.

"It's good to see that Whitechapel Middle school is taking the important steps in encouraging children to use their bikes. We have 14km, of off-road cycling ground on our doorstep, which is ideal for children to use to get to and from school," said Mr Wood.

During her visit to Whitechapel Middle, the minister met members of the school's cycling club and road safety trainers Andy Dearnaly and Joanne Rimmer.

Ms Winterton watched as the children were given tuition on signalling and how to be safe when cycling on the roads.

Pupil Bailey Taylor, 10, was thrilled to meet Ms Winterton
"It's been really exciting today because I've never met someone so important before. The training has helped me a lot because the teachers have made us do the exercises over and over again so it sticks in our minds," said Bailey.

Headteacher at the school, Sonia Garland, said: "We feel the grant is a very positive move as we've being encouraging our children to cycle to school for the last five years in order for more parents to leave their cars at home.

"We were one of the first schools in the country to be presented with the gold healthy schools standard and encouraging our pupils to develop a healthy lifestyle is very important to us."

Cabinet member for transport Martyn Bolt said: "I was pleasantly surprised with the minister's interest in and enthusiasm for cycling, and the fact she could ride a bike.

"With regard to the investment in cycling provision nationally, and Kirklees's share of it, I hope this will be represented with safety provision and training in Kirklees so more children can cycle to school.

"I urge all schools to look at their travel plans to see how they can get more children walking and cycling to school."

David Hall, regional director for Sustrans, the charity which maintains the greenway, said: "Rosie Winterton was able to cycle from the school to the centre of Cleckheaton, which demonstrates how the greenway is a useful and a safe link for children and adults to use. Hopefully people will see how easy it is to go and do their shopping on their bikes instead of using their cars all the time."