The Regional Mayor for the East Midlands Claire Ward is being asked to help resolve a funding issue that’s closed a popular walkway linking Radcliffe-on-Trent and Cotgrave Country Park.
It was sealed off last year after unauthorised digging work, at the back of a caravan site for travellers, weakened the embankment of the disused railway.
Attempts by walkers and cyclists to use the former railway bridge, which crosses the main A52, have been blocked by steel security fencing, installed by Nottinghamshire County Council for safety reasons.
The so-called “greenway” route on the disused rail freight line is hugely popular with walkers and cyclists, and residents in Radcliffe have been increasingly frustrated at delays to reopen the track, which is owned and managed by the County Council.
The MP for Rushcliffe James Naish held a site meeting at the bridge with the Regional Mayor’s sustainable travel policy advisor Alan Simpson, and Labour’s county council candidate for Radcliffe John Hess , and the party’s Cotgrave candidate Michael Symonds.
“This issue has been unsolved for months, and residents don’t feel they’re getting an honest and fair response from the county council,” said James Naish.
A factor could be the cost of repair work to the embankment, thought to run into a six figure sum.
“The East Midlands Mayor is aware of the problem here because this track is of such importance, ”he added.
Alan Simpson, a former Nottingham South MP, said both he and the Mayor were surprised the county council had allowed the erosion of the embankment since its closure.
“Claire Ward would want to know what work is being done to repair the route before we can work on plans to make it better. It appears the county council has taken little or no action to stop it getting worse.” he said.
Mr Simpson described the former railway track as a “wonderful asset” for Nottinghamshire, which offered huge potential for more sustainable and inclusive travel.
As keen cyclists, both John Hess, Labour’s county council candidate for Radcliffe, and Michael Symonds, the party’s candidate for Cotgrave, said it was very frustrating not being able use the track.
Michael said: “I can’t understand why the county council haven’t got on top of this and come up with a solution to resolve it. It makes me so angry to see it like this.”
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