Nene Park Trust is pleased to announce that a new bridge will be installed in the autumn at Thorpe Meadows at the site of the old ‘Red Bridge’.
For 38 years, the old ‘Red Bridge’ spanned an inlet from the River Nene to the rowing lake on the edge of Thorpe Meadows. The bridge was on a footpath that followed a picturesque riverside route from the City Centre to the western edge of Peterborough and beyond but in 2021 it was deemed unsafe due to rotten wooden beams and was removed in 2022. Since then, there has been no crossing point of the river in this location.
Thanks to a combination of funds from Peterborough City Council and Nene Park Trust as well as generous donations from Tarmac Landfill Communities Fund and FCC Communities Foundation, Nene Park Trust is now able to proceed with the bridge replacement.
This project will install a new 20m long, 1.2m wide steel and timber footbridge which will have a lifespan of 50-100 years, helping to build the resilience of this area of Nene Park. The new bridge will reopen a popular walking route to Nene Park and the Boardwalks Nature Reserve from the city centre. It will also provide a foot/cycle entry point to Thorpe Meadows Gateway, allowing pedestrians/cyclists to avoid having to use a busy main road.
It is anticipated the reopening of the bridge will help encourage more people to visit Thorpe Meadows under their own steam to enjoy the outdoors and feel the related health and wellbeing benefits.
Greg Higby, Nene Park Trust Park Manager said “The opening of the new footbridge will be pivotal in reconnecting access between Peterborough city centre and Thorpe Meadows. The bridge will play a fantastic role in giving our local communities and visitors an extra incentive to walk to Thorpe Meadows and explore the wider Nene Park. Many thanks to our funders for helping to make this happen.”
Colin Ellis, operations manager for Tarmac’s South East operations, said: “I am happy to hear that the Thorpe Meadows Bridge replacement can now go ahead due to the donation received from the Tarmac Landfill Communities Fund towards this project. I look forward to seeing the new bridge in place when it has been built.”
Chery Raynor, FCC Communities Foundation Grant Manager said: “We are delighted to support the Trust with this important project. It is exciting to think that once completed, the community will once again be able to safely cross the river and visit the Park and reserve.
The new bridge works will take place in September-October 2023 with the new bridge expected to be open for use by the end of October.
