The borough’s civic leader, Cllr Greg Maskalick, defied 33 °C heat to don his chain of office and cut the ribbon in Long Eaton, where he was joined by a town hall delegation and the local MP.
Greg hailed the new footbridge and cycleway at Britannia Mills as a huge boost to connectivity in the town. It has been constructed at a cost of around £2.1 million at a former industrial site where new homes have been built. The Mayor said after he traversed the span: “It may be sweltering – but this is truly a cool new way to get across the Erewash Canal.”
The crossing is just one of a string of exciting “Town Deal” projects funded by £25 million of regeneration investment that the council secured from the government.
A spectacular second bridge that will become a new local landmark is taking shape close to the centre of town at Broad Street. Meanwhile, the area around the High Street is being transformed at a cost of £10 million to turn it into a hub for shopping and leisure.
Among those at the opening of the Britannia Mills Bridge was Erewash’s leader, Cllr James Dawson. He said: “While the Broad Street bridge is replacing a structure that was nearing the end of its lifespan, the crossing here near Canal Street has been built where no bridge stood before. It will be a tremendous time-saver for local people.” Local businessman Richard Ledger, who chairs the Long Eaton Town Deal Board, said: “There are more than 100 new affordable homes at Britannia Mills, which was an old lace-making complex. The now thriving community there will be overjoyed at the bridge halving the previous mile-long distance between canal crossings.”
The borough council’s key partners in the bridge project – including the Canal & River Trust, the Environment Agency and Futures Housing – were thanked by the authority. One local who has already warmed to the new crossing described it as “brilliant” – adding on Facebook: “It will be a great asset. Much easier to get into town from the Canal Street area.” Another recalled how, as a child, he used to swim across the canal. He wrote fondly: “Happy days.”
Erewash’s MP, Adam Thompson, followed the Mayor across the new bridge just weeks after taking to a canoe with the 15th Long Eaton Sea Scout & Guide Group for their “Big Paddle Clean Up 2026”. It was the second time he had joined the effort to keep the canal pristine. Adam said of the bridge: “Until now, if you wanted to cross the canal between Derby Road and Bennett Street Lock, you were looking at nearly a mile between crossings. That’s a long way to go out of your way. This new bridge cuts that distance roughly in half, making it easier than ever for people from northern Long Eaton to get to the canal, river, and town centre, whether on foot or by bike.”
Local firm Stepnell won the contract to construct the crossing. Its director, Tom Sewell, said: “It is fantastic to celebrate the opening, having worked closely with Erewash Borough Council and the wider community to deliver a high-quality bridge that will enhance access into the town centre as part of the Long Eaton Town Deal.
“As a business based nearby in Beeston and also involved in the Broad Street bridge, we are continuing to strengthen our connection with the community as we help to bring this complex long-term transformation to life.” His company arranged for an ice cream van to be at the opening of the bridge on Thursday 25 June – which was officially Erewash’s hottest June day on record.
