New structures improve access to Buxton town centre park
“The Ashwood Park bridge improvements will restore important links through the park, improve accessibility and help ensure this much-loved community asset can be enjoyed by future generations.”
TWO more new bridges have been installed over the River Wye in Ashwood Park as part of a project to improve access for pedestrians and cyclists.
The arrival of the replacement bridges, along with a third installed during the summer, is a landmark moment in a 10-year campaign by the Buxton Town Team community group.
“It is very satisfying to finally see the bridges go in,” said Ashwood Park project leader Richard Lower. “It’s been a long process in getting everybody on board, finding the funding and obtaining the necessary licences and permits.
Partners include High Peak Borough Council and the Environment Agency. The council committed some cash, while the Town Team secured a vital £110,000 grant from Tarmac’s Landfill Communities Fund.
“At Tarmac, we are proud to support community projects that make a real difference to local people,” said a spokesperson. “The Ashwood Park bridge improvements will restore important links through the park, improve accessibility and help ensure this much-loved community asset can be enjoyed by future generations.”
The bridge closest to the town centre is now much wider so that it can be used by cyclists – the route through the park is part of the Town Team’s safer walk and ride network.
Resurfacing of the paths serving the two newly-installed bridges is due to be completed by the end of this week. Work on the approaches to the third bridge, reopening a route closed for at least 20 years, continues. It will involve the felling of a tree which will be replaced by at least one new sapling.
Meanwhile, the Town Team is continuing to work on other improvements to the park, in partnership with the borough council.
“There will be more seating and planting in the area where the old bandstand was,” said Richard. “We are also looking at putting in a walking and exercise route. For people who are in recovery, it is one of the few flat areas in Buxton.”
The volunteers also recently cleared the footpath linking Granby Road in Fairfield with Morrisons, he added: “Overgrown bushes and brambles were making it difficult to negotiate the path and meant the handrails could not be used.
“We cut the overhanging bushes, pulled out nettles, cut back the undergrowth, cleared litter and brushed the walkway. We got a lot of ‘thank yous’ from people using the path.”