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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.

Published on 17th Jul 2009