Cracks appearing in £1.2m footpath

It’s not edIble!

tcollins@thekmgroup.co.uk A £1.2 million path intended to connect Park Farm to the town centre is in need of repair – before it has even been officially opened.

Construction was completed on the first section of the 1.6km ‘greenway’ route, running from Asda in Kimberley Way, Ashford, through the Willesborough Dykes, in December 2012.

But the presence of hazel dormice, a protected species found in the area last July, delayed the second phase, which will connect the Dykes to Park Farm via the A2070 Hamstreet Road.

Construction

Now it has emerged that cracks which appeared in the surface of the path that has already been laid will need to be repaired. A spokesman for Ashford Borough Council said: “The first phase of construction of the Willesborough Dykes foot and cycle path was completed in December 2012.

“But the path will not be open to the public until the second phase, being delivered by the Highways Agency, is completed in late spring 2014.

“Last summer, some linear cracks appeared in the path’s surface in a number of locations and were reported to the contractor. The contractor has investigated the cause and will be making the necessary repairs

What do you think? Write to Kentish Express, 34-36 North Street, Ashford TN24 8JR or email kentishexpress@thekmgroup.co.uk and will resurface the path at no additional cost to Ashford Borough Council.

“Repairs to the path, together with some additional repairs to damaged fencing, are not expected to delay the opening of the path to the public.”

Work to rehome the dormice is now under way ahead of the final stages of construction of the path.

A programme of vegetation clearance has been taking place along the route of the second phase, which avoids harming any dormice that may be present.

Almost 4,000 new trees have also been planted.

Cracks on the new pathway