BRIGG PUBLIC FOOTPATH & CYCLE WAY WORK MAY TAKE UP TO SIX MONTHS

The start of the closed off section of Brigg public footpath, near the County Bridge and Spring's Parade car park, with the new B&M store in the distance.

FROM NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE COUNCIL

The council is investing in the third phase of the Ancholme Valley Way project, which has started and will see improvements made to the footpath to allow cyclist access.

Ancholme Valley Way runs along the River Ancholme and will eventually link Brigg with South Ferriby.

A section of the path has been closed off whilst work is carried out to make sure the public are safe. This is because much of the work involves electrical improvements. A diversion route has been put in place.

It is expected that the work will take six weeks to finish, however if it is safe to do so the path will be reopened earlier.

Improvements between County Bridge and Ancholme Way Bridge include:

• Widening of the path
• Remodelling and replanting the banks
• Additional drainage to prevent flooding
• New benches
• Extra litter bins
• Refurbishment of the railings
• Lighting on County Bridge
• Refurbishment of street lighting

Improvements between Ancholme Way Bridge and Broughton Bridge include:

• Installation of wildlife and interpretation boards to provide visitors with information about the area
• Installation of mile markers so people know how far they have travelled
• Planting at Broughton Bridge to improve the bee habitat

Coun Rob Waltham, from Brigg, Deputy Leader of North Lincolnshire Council, said: “The Ancholme Valley Way has already been used by thousands of visitors, from cyclists and dog walkers to walkers and runners. It is a fantastic place that brings you closer to local wildlife.

"It has been possible for us to invest in the Ancholme Valley Way project due to us being careful with taxpayers' money.

“We are now making improvements to the footpath and cycleway that will include a range of features to enhance the experience of visitors. People will be able to track how far they are travelling with the handy mile marker boards and read the information boards to find out about the local wildlife.
"The Ancholme Valley Way will open up tourism to the area and in turn with create more jobs across North Lincolnshire.

“We are currently working with landowners to discuss the best route for Ancholme Valley Way to link from Broughton Bridge to South Ferriby. This will be the last phase of the project.”
So far £500,000 has been invested in the first three phases of Ancholme Valley Way. Tesco (£10,000), Wren (£50,000) and Able UK (£100,000) have provided funding for the project.

NF adds: We were contacted a week ago by a Brigg Blog follower who posed a number of questions after seeing that fencing had been put up to close the towpath from near the County Bridge to the A18 Ancholme Way flyover. Our correspondent asked why the path had to be closed BEFORE there was any sign of actual work starting and also questioned why the work was being undertaken at a time of year when use of this right of way is at its highest (rather than during colder months of the year) and why the whole stretch had been fenced off at once, even though the work "will make its way  along the path gradually." Brigg Blog went to the area and took these pictures on Sunday. North Lincolnshire Council's response later this week came by way of the above press release, which we've posted in full. Since then, work has got under way, as the local authority indicates in its statement. It is generally the case  that local authorities over-estimate the time scale in such cases, so although the public notice covers six months from May 30, it may not take until November 30 to complete the work. We shall see...

A closed off section of public footpath in Brigg, with the Old River Ancholme and A18 Ancholme Way bridge in the background

The closed off section of public footpath in Brigg, viewed from alongside the A18 on top of the Ancholme Way bridge.

Close up of a public notice displayed near the County Bridge, giving details of the closure of the Brigg public footpath as far as Ancholme Way Flyover - "required for six months or until the works are completed, whichever is the sooner."