More than 40 footpaths in Cumbria damaged by Storm Desmond have now undergone repairs and improvements.
Cumbria County Council’s Countryside Access team has recently completed a major programme of repair works covering 41 paths well used by local people and visitors to Cumbria. The programme has included:
The county council delivered this extensive £500,000 programme, which focused on popular paths and trails in areas of Cumbria outside its two national parks. The programme was funded by the Rural Payments Agency through the Rural Development Programme for England.
Cllr Celia Tibble, Cumbria County Council Cabinet member for Environment, said:
“The council’s Countryside Access team have done a fantastic job repairing many of the paths and bridges on Cumbria’s rights of way network which were damaged during Storm Desmond. It’s been a mammoth task which has involved countless hours spent inspecting sites, finalising our successful funding bid to the RPA and getting work carried out on the ground. It’s important that we maintain these routes so that local people and visitors can enjoy the county’s magnificent landscapes.”
Examples of some of the routes that have undergone repairs are:
Hadrian’s Wall Path National Trail - flood damage has been repaired and a new concrete path installed under the West Coast Main Line viaduct at Willowholme, Carlisle.
Isaacs Tea Trail in Alston - riverbank repairs on the River Nent, three ‘sleeper’ footbridges renewed with a long span bridge and five kissing gates installed to replace stiles and improve access.
Kirkby Lonsdale - major project to repair severe flood damage on a popular path beside the River Lune near Devil’s Bridge.
Appleby - re-grading and reinstatement of path beside the River Eden using stone gabion bank protection.