Conservative County Councillor Roger Upton has renewed his call for progress on the reopening of the Radcliffe-on-Trent to Cotgrave Greenway, after again raising the issue at Nottinghamshire County Council’s Full Council meeting.
The popular walking and cycling route has now been closed for more than two and a half years following damage to an embankment near the A52 crossing.
Cllr Upton has repeatedly raised the issue with council officers and through formal council meetings, pressing for a clear plan to reinstate the damaged section and give local residents greater certainty over when the route can reopen.
At Full Council this week, Cllr Upton asked the Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Asset Management for an update on the council’s position, including whether a preferred option and funding had now been identified and when residents could expect a clear timetable for reopening.
The greenway opened in April 2019 following a £250,000 investment and quickly became a popular facility for walkers, cyclists, horse riders and families. The traffic-free route provides an important connection between Radcliffe-on-Trent and Cotgrave for both leisure and everyday journeys.
The route was closed in January 2024 following unauthorised works on adjacent land which damaged and destabilised the embankment. Engineering investigations subsequently identified significant concerns about the stability of the damaged section.
In response to Cllr Upton’s latest question, the Cabinet Member acknowledged the work that has been undertaken and said the council understood the strength of local feeling over the closure.
He said the council remained committed to seeing the damaged section reinstated “as soon as practically possible”, adding that significant work had been undertaken to ensure any solution was technically robust, legally sound and represented the best possible outcome for Nottinghamshire taxpayers.
Cllr Upton said: “Residents have been waiting more than two and a half years for this much-loved route to reopen, and I will continue to press the council for answers until we have a clear plan to get it done.
“I welcome the Cabinet Member’s confirmation that the council remains committed to reinstating the greenway and that work is continuing behind the scenes to identify a sustainable solution.
“However, residents quite rightly want to know what happens next. I have raised this issue repeatedly over the past two and a half years, both with officers and at Full Council, because the community deserves clarity on the options, the funding required and the timescale for reopening.
“The strength of feeling locally is clear, with around 2,500 people signing a petition calling for the greenway to be reinstated. This is an important route for residents in Radcliffe, Cotgrave and the surrounding area, and people want to see it brought back into use.
“I will continue working with residents, officers and the council to keep this issue moving and make sure the greenway does not simply remain closed indefinitely.”
The Conservative Group has also previously explored opportunities for additional funding to support the project, including approaching the East Midlands Combined County Authority for financial assistance.
