River walkway to be created from Barton Hill to rail station

A river walkway is to be created in Bury St Edmunds in a bid to encourage more people to enjoy walking and the outdoors.

British Sugar has agreed a long-term lease with St Edmundsbury Borough Council for a piece of land that runs alongside the Bury St Edmunds factory and the River Lark, so it can be opened up and managed by the council.

Work will now take place to clear vegetation and put in new planting.

Once completed the walkway will offer an attractive nature walk running from Barton Hill to Bury train station to create an extension to the Lark Valley Path.

The Bury Water Meadows Group has been involved in the initiative for a number of years and has recently bought a piece of land at the Barton Hill end which will help provide access.

Chairman of the Bury Water Meadows Group Andrew Hinchley said: “It has been a long held ambition both of the group and of the council to bring this area back into public use and achieving environmental improvements. I am delighted that British Sugar is able to support this wonderful initiative by transferring this stretch of land to the council. We look forward to working with the council over the coming months to make the necessary improvements that will enable this area to be opened to the public.”

Joanna Rayner, Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture, said: “The idea to enhance this stretch of the River Lark and open it to the public was first mooted some 10 years ago. Our strategy is to encourage more walking and cycling where we can and what better way to do that than by creating an attractive nature walk alongside this stretch of river. This is great news, I understand that there is still quite a lot of work associated with getting the route prepared and hope that this will be done in time for an opening in spring 2020 or earlier if conditions allow.”

Mike Blowers, British Sugar Bury St Edmunds factory manager, added:  “We’re delighted to be able to support St Edmundsbury Borough Council and the Bury Water Meadows Group in bringing this land into public use. As a business, our contribution to the communities we operate in is very important to us and we’re proud to be helping on a project which will support healthy and active lifestyles while also protecting and enhancing the environment. We will continue to work with everyone involved to minimise any disruption from the creation of the new walkway.”

The council has written to residents and will be speaking to them about the works in order to minimise any impact that it may have.

The Bury Water Meadows Group will work to ensure that the privacy of residents is maintained to the maximum by appropriate planting on the river bank at key points.

Pictured above are In members of the Bury Water Meadows Group with St Edmundsbury Borough councillor Julia Wakelam who represents the Risbygate Ward; Joanna Rayner, Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture at St Edmundsbury Borough Council; MP Jo Churchill; Damien Parker, West Suffolk Councils’ Service Manager, Operations Leisure and Culture; and Andrew Woodin from Suffolk County Council.