Worksop: Worksop town section of Chesterfield Canal towpath project is now complete

People living in Worksop can now enjoy a new traffic-free route through the town after the latest works to improve the towpath of the Chesterfield Canal were completed.
Work has been completed on the Worksop section of the Chesterfield Canal towpathWork has been completed on the Worksop section of the Chesterfield Canal towpath
Work has been completed on the Worksop section of the Chesterfield Canal towpath

The Canal & River Trust, the charity responsible for the nation’s waterways, has recently completed a £74,000 project to improve a 500 metre stretch of the towpath between Cuckoo Wharf and Bracebridge Lock.

The works mean that, in the space of the last four years, over 5km of the canal’s towpath have been made wider, more even and better surfaced so that it can be enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities.

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The new path gives local people a safe, clean alternative route into work, school and to local shops and attractions such as the Creative Village.

The towpath also forms part of Route 6 of the National Cycle Network and will help to attract visitors into the town.

The project has been part funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Department for Communities and Local Government.

The remaining funding was provided by Notts County Council.

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The old towpath was narrow and often became muddy and prone to large puddles in wet weather.

The new surface, however, will improve drainage meaning that the path will be better suited for use all year round.

Lucie Hoelmer, enterprise manager for the Trust said; “This project will bring some real benefits to people living in Worksop.”

“The new towpath is a fantastic clean, green way of heading into town to the shops or work or even just as a relaxing place to get away from it all.

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“I can’t think of a more relaxing way of getting to work or going shopping than on a 200 year-old canal towpath where, if you’re really lucky, you could see a kingfisher.”

“Importantly the works will also improve the cycle network making it more appealing for people to visit and maybe stop off to enjoy what the town has to offer.”

The scheme is another project that has brought the greener side of Worksop back to the fore in recent years and follows on from last week when the Canch area of the town was awarded a nation Green Flag award.