Information on Loughborough
News Index
2012
Feb 2012Jan 2012
2011
Dec 2011Nov 2011
Oct 2011
Sep 2011
Aug 2011
Jul 2011
Jun 2011
May 2011
Apr 2011
Mar 2011
Feb 2011
Jan 2011
2010
Dec 2010Nov 2010
Oct 2010
Sep 2010
Aug 2010
Jul 2010
Jun 2010
May 2010
Apr 2010
Mar 2010
Feb 2010
Jan 2010
2009
Dec 2009Nov 2009
Oct 2009
Sep 2009
Aug 2009
Jul 2009
Jun 2009
May 2009
Apr 2009
Mar 2009
Feb 2009
Jan 2009
2008
Dec 2008Nov 2008
Oct 2008
Sep 2008
Aug 2008
Jul 2008
Jun 2008
May 2008
Apr 2008
Mar 2008
Feb 2008
Jan 2008
2007
Dec 2007Nov 2007
Oct 2007
Sep 2007
Aug 2007
Jul 2007
Jun 2007
May 2007
Lottery money bridge opens
Posted on 10/07/2009
Highways, Transportation & Waste Management
A new bridge set to make Watermead Country Park more accessible to all visitors is being opened this week.
People will be able to cross the new wider bridge at Thurmaston Lock (near Mill Lane) much more easily as it has more gentle approaches.
The ramps up to the old bridge were very steep making it difficult to negotiate for cyclists or parents with buggies and impossible for someone using a wheelchair.
The improvements are part of the £1.4 million Sustrans Connect2 project which won a share of £50 million Big Lottery Fund grant in December 2007 following a public vote.
Over the next five years, the County Council will be boosting paths and trails in and around the park and bettering links from surrounding villages and into the city’s well established cycling network. Other improvements will include new crossings at busy roads and alterations to several other bridges in the park.
County Councillor Ernie White, Cabinet Member for Better Places said: “The park is popular with visitors from all over the city and county and the increased publicity since Sustrans won the lottery fund has helped to boost the number of people using the park by around 18%.
"We want to make sure that the changes over the next five years will greatly improve accessibility into and around the park for all of these people.”
Patrick Davis, Area Manager for Sustrans, said: “We are delighted to be making this significant step towards completing the scheme in Leicestershire.
“In this era of rising fuel prices and concerns about the health of individuals and our environment, enabling more journeys to be made by foot and bike can only benefit our community.”
Local residents are invited to celebrate the opening of the new bridge by joining a free guided walk with a park ranger from the new bridge at 1:30pm this Thursday (9th July). Access to the new bridge is via Mill Lane in Thurmaston.
The project has been designed and built by Leicestershire County Council.
To keep up to date with progress on the Connect2 scheme in Watermead Country Park, visit www.leics.gov.uk/connect2 .
Photo Opportunity:
Ernie White and Lesley Pendleton, County Council Cabinet Member for Highways, will officially open the new bridge on Thursday, 9th July at 1pm. They will be joined by members of the project’s steering group and children from Eastfield Primary School. Press should park in the car park at the bottom of Mill Lane, off Melton Rd Thurmaston.
Notes:
Steelwork was completed by Leicester Fabrications Ltd and joinery and decking by Thoresby Joinery and Building Co.
Lutterworth firm Whitmore’s supplied the timber for the new bridge. The wood is from English Oak trees grown on the Duke of Bedford’s Estate.
For further information on Sustrans’ Connect2 project please contact Hannah Sheppard in the Sustrans press office on 0117 915 0123.
Sustrans is the UK’s leading sustainable transport charity. Its vision is a world in which people choose to travel in ways that benefit their health and the environment. It is achieving this through innovative but practical solutions to the UK’s transport challenges.
£50 million Sustrans’ Connect2 is a UK-wide project that will create new cycling and walking routes to improve local travel in 79 communities. Connect2 was awarded its Living Landmarks: The People’s Millions grant after winning a public vote televised on ITV1 in December 2007. Further details are available at www.sustransconnect2.org.uk .
The Big Lottery Fund, the largest of the National Lottery good cause distributors, has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK since its inception in June 2004. It was established by Parliament on 1 December 2006.
Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 020 7211 1888Out of hours: 07867 500 572
Public Enquiries Line: 08454 102030. Textphone: 08456 021 659
Full details of Big Lottery Fund projects and grant awards are available at: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk .