Parishes benefiting from fund
NEW cycle racks, clearing vegetation to create wider footpaths, and speed reduction signs are helping communities stay safe and get their daily exercise, thanks to a parish and community fund.
One of the county parishes to benefit from Leicestershire County Council’s highways fund is Carlton, near Market Bosworth, where a pedestrian gate has been installed for people to safely pass through and provide access to several miles of footpaths.
Parish council chairman Stuart Tupling said: “The introduction of the ‘kissing gate’ has been really helpful in giving our residents several new stile-free walking routes as they take daily exercise.”
Barkby and Barkby Thorpe Parish Council, near Loughborough, has also benefited, with vegetation cleared to make footpaths easier to access. Clerk of the council Carla Cunningham-Atkins said: “Through the fund, it’s now easier to socially distance along our footpaths, and there’s been really positive feedback from local residents.”
Councillor Trevor Pendleton, county council lead member for highways and transport, said: “More than 90 parishes and communities expressed an interest and there have certainly been benefits for communities, such as better options around exercising, which has become a lifeline to people during this difficult lockdown period and is incredibly important for both mental and physical wellbeing. By helping widen pathways through removing vegetation, giving easier access to public footpaths, and slowing traffic through our villages we’re working with parishes and communities so residents feel safer as they walk.”
Highways teams are currently working hard on implementing the last of thecommunity requests.
The parish and community fund is among a package of financial aid projects recently championed by the council which included a dedicated pot of cash for Leicestershire’s volunteer groups, pubs, and small businesses.