Do you love Ferry Meadows? It’s time to give your views on some significant improvements including a new bridge.
Over the last year and several lockdowns our love for Nene Park and its green spaces has never been greater. It’s been a real oasis in Peterborough where we’ve flocked for some nature therapy, exercise and precious freedom amidst all the restrictions.
Now amongst a raft of planned improvements to this great outdoor space we treasure, there is a consultation on the replacement of a much-loved bridge over the lakes and it’s time to have your say.
Nene Park Trust is developing designs for a new bridge to replace the current Pontoon Bridge in Ferry Meadows, with support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. These plans have been released ahead of submission to Peterborough City Council Planning Department and the Trust is keen to hear your feedback.
Replacing the bridge forms part of a range of activities and improvements being developed as part of the Trust’s Your Community Greenspace project. The improvements will ensure Nene Park remains a welcoming and resilient place for us all to continue to enjoy the many benefits of being outdoors, all year round, for many years to come. The project is currently in the development phase, which means the Trust has received funds from the National Lottery to develop ideas, ahead of submitting a 2nd phase application in March 2021. The Trust will find out if they are successful in the summer, beginning the proposed five-year project in autumn 2021.
The new bridge will replace the current Pontoon Bridge which has needed substantial maintenance and repairs after its 30 year life to keep it open for use. Replacing it won’t be easy and Nene Park Trust has listened to feedback from a variety of sources on what people like about the current bridge, what issues there are with it and what could be achieved with a new bridge.
The Trust worked hard to identify a designer who could bring both simple engineering and quality design to the project within a limited budget and chose designer Chris Brammall, highly regarded as one of the leading metalworkers in the UK (https://cb-arts.co.uk/).
Greg Higby, Park Manager for Nene Park Trust said – “It’s great news that we are progressing plans for the replacement of Pontoon Bridge which is such a key crossing point in the Park. We really hope the public and planners like the design and the National Lottery Heritage Fund approve the project for funding!”
Andrew MacDermott, Head of Development for Nene Park Trust said – “We have worked hard as a team over a challenging year to work with community partners to develop this project. Pontoon Bridge is just one element of this project and it is great to now be releasing the designs.”
There are more exciting plans as part of the project including improvements to the Ferry Meadows welcome area and toilets near the Visitor Centre; further improvements to the Lynch Lake Community Hub and expanding the facilities for volunteers, including setting up a Nene Park plant nursery and some new indoor spaces for volunteers to work in and relax. Planning applications will also be submitted for these where required, over the coming weeks.
“The wider project which strives to connect the Park with all the communities of Peterborough, improving our volunteering, activities and events offer, is really exciting,” added Andrew, “and we have our fingers crossed that with the support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund we will soon be getting started!”
There’s more about this on their website where there’s also a link to a survey where you can let them know what you think – www.nenepark.org.uk/your-community-greenspace-capital-works.
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