Langport opens its riverside frontage
WORK on a new riverside path, car park and amenity area, along with repairs to the slipway, has started in Langport in Somerset.
A contractor has been appointed for all these outstanding works along the River Parrett between Langport and Huish Bridge and everything should be completed in early October.
IWA West Country Branch has been working alongside Langport Town Council on the project. The aim is to increase the use of the non-tidal ‘Upper’ Parrett for leisure and recreation purposes and thereby bring more visitors into the town.
The new half-mile riverside path is designed to be accessible by all throughout the year and should also stand up to occasional flooding.
The project is made possible by funds from the original grant to Langport Town Council from the RDPE Growth Programme of £179,000.
Visitors to the river will be encouraged to spend time by the river at Huish Bridge with the installation of picnic tables and much improved car parking facilities. The slipway will give access to 71⁄2 miles of the River Parrett and its tributaries, the Yeo and Isle, to trailboats from across the country as well as canoeists and paddleboarders.
All of these developments are funded by a further RDPE grant, a grant of £5000 from the Canoe Foundation and from a contribution received from South Somerset District Council.
IWA West Country Branch is delighted to see that the news of the riverside improvements has already resulted in increased visitors to the area and some small businesses opening up in the town.
Branch chairman Ray Alexander said: “I believe we can be incredibly proud of the role that the branch, Roy Sutton, IWA honorary consultant engineer, WRG BITM and WRG Forestry have played in supporting what has been a massive team effort by the town council and the residents of Langport in achieving such a great outcome for their river and town.”