By Lauren Monaghan, Junior Local Democracy Reporter
Works to repair a Nottinghamshire cycle path which has now been shut for for 10 months have moved a step closer – but residents and councillors say they are frustrated there is still no date for when it will re-open.
The £250,000 ‘greenway’ route for cyclists, walkers and horse riders, links Radcliffe-on-Trent to Cotgrave and opened in 2019.
But a section at the Radcliffe end has been closed off since January after it was destabilised by unauthorised work on the embankment.
The section, between Holme Lane and Stragglethorpe Road near Radcliffe, sits on a former railway line.
The damage was done at the rear of Cedar Lodge Caravan park, off the A52, when a digger on the site appeared to have removed a section of embankment earth.
Nottinghamshire County Council then closed off the route with a temporary fence, with a sign in July saying there were “no timescales” on repair work.
Despite the months-long closure of part of the path, the County Council has still not provided a timeframe for work completion in its latest update.
Councillor Anne McLeod, Chair of Radcliffe-on-Trent Parish Council, said: “The village is still very upset about it, it’s a facility that we can’t use so we really are quite frustrated.”
Rushcliffe Borough Councillor Roger Upton (Con) said he is trying to get a timescale for the works.
He said: “It’s rather annoying to us all, residents and councillors.
“I can understand it’s frustrating for them – cyclists, walkers and horse riders- they’re concerned about it, how long is it going to remain closed.
“We don’t seem to have any dates- we are trying to get those dates by the County Council.”
“It’s a big project and difficult to access- I suppose the County Council have got a lot of things to think about.”
The County Council’s online update, published this week, says it has now received, and is considering, options for the re-stabilisation works.
It is also communicating with neighbouring landowners to figure out how the works, requiring “heavy machinery”, will take place.
In the update, attributed to a Conservation Manager, the council said: “We understand the frustrations of the local community and are continuing to work hard to resolve a complex issue that requires a technical, engineered solution.
“Please do not attempt to circumvent the barriers that are in place to use the closed section – they are there to ensure your safety.
“We will provide a further update once we have agreed the preferred option, how the work will be carried out, and have an estimated timeframe for completion.”
