New footbridge would give access to one of Horncastle's '˜best kept secrets'

The town’s Walkers are Welcome (WaW) Group is spearheading the bid to get the bridge built - linking the Centurion Park Estate with Banovallum Carr Woods.

WAW chairman Gail Dymoke says the woodland is one of the town’s best kept secrets, because it is virtually inaccessible from any land to the east of the old river.

Speaking at a meeting of the town council earlier this month, she said the bridge would cost around £6,800.

She said various organisations were supporting the project and some had donated money.

She asked councillors for their support, saying the bridge would attract walkers and bring more people into the town.

She added the bridge would make it easier to link paths with the popular Spa Trail and the Viking Way and was another step in development of a ‘green wheel’ of walks encircling the town.

Mrs Dymoke said the idea of a bridge was first considered about four or five years ago when work on the Centurian Park Estate started.

She told councillors several organisations backed the project - including the Woodland Trust and Waterloo Housing who were developing the estate.

She added the initiative failed because the owner of a section of land between the estate and the river refused access for a footpath.

Mrs Dymoke explained the idea had been resurrected by the WaW group who secured support from the Horncastle Playing Fields Association, the Environment Agency and the Woodland Trust.

She revealed trustees from the town’s War Memorial Hospital had donated £2,000 while the Woodland Trust had also pledged money.

She added funding for the project was ‘close’ to being completed.

Mrs Dymoke confirmed Horncastle Lions had volunteered to build the bridge but were reluctant to take on-going maintenance of structure.

Councillors agreed to support the bridge, in principle.

Coun David Scott was worried about the council being liable for any compensation claim, should anyone be injured on the bridge. He was assured insurance was in place.

Councillors said they wanted more details before making a full commitment but they did donate £308 from a now defunct ‘Timebank’ account.