The Council, working with the Primary Care Trust, plans to create 'Healthy Walks' of about 2-3kms near towns in West Berkshire. The first one will be based at Northcroft Leisure Centre, out towards the bypass and back across private land known as Speen Moors to join the canal towpath at Guyers Lock.
These walks are intended to be 'accessible to all', although wheelchair users will need someone with them. Also they are 'country walks', not just an extension of urban footpaths with tarmac and lighting.
The New Monkey Bridge is a vital part of this circuit. Work has started and the new bridges, making the route accessible between Northcroft Lane and Russell Road, are due to be open by the end of 2007.
Lib Dem Councillor Tony Vickers also successfully bid for money in the 2006/07 Council budget for replacing two stiles with gates, on the public footpath west of the old railway line. This links to a 'permitted path' across land owned by Sutton Estates, back across the water meadows between woods to the towpath.
The gates were installed just before the recent elections. This week they will be inspected by members of the Mid & West Berkshire Access Forum - a group of people appointed to advice our local highway authorities on ways to make the countryside more accessible.
But we want to make improvements to the Permitted Path too. Otherwise the work already done is of limited value.
If you agree with us, please sign the petition and send it in to us now.
