New Pedestrian and Cycle Bridge to Warwickshire Country Park Expected to Open Before Christmas

A councillor has announced that a long-anticipated replacement pedestrian and cycle bridge, providing access to a Warwickshire country park, is scheduled to open prior to Christmas. The previous bridge, which linked Radford Road with Newbold Comyn in Leamington Spa, was deemed unsafe last year and subsequently dismantled in March. Its replacement experienced delays due to environmental considerations and recent flooding, but it was ultimately delivered and installed via winching on Thursday. Will Roberts, a Green Party member of Warwick District Council, communicated in a letter to residents, stating: “The official opening will hopefully take place on 18 December.” Newbold Comyn is a popular location, with its paths, cycle track, and football pitches extensively utilized for sports and recreational activities, including a regular weekly park run event. Roberts informed his constituents, remarking: “This has been a very long, complicated and challenging journey, which has seen several hold ups.” He further elaborated in the letter that these obstacles encompassed “protected fish, calls from the Environment Agency to increase the height of the bridge by 2m (6.6ft) and a lost gas pipe”. The new bridge, measuring 3.5m (11.5ft) in width, was fabricated off-site and transported via road, subsequently being hoisted into its position between recently erected abutments. Contractors are currently focused on finishing the footpaths and landscaping work prior to the bridge’s opening. Roberts stated: “We are very much looking forward to opening it to local residents at the earliest opportunity.” The council has indicated that the Radford Road car park will stay closed to ensure the safe execution of the ongoing works.