Lake District 'million pound path' repair

Two years after record-breaking floods caused havoc in Cumbria, the Lake District National Park has just spent its one millionth pound on repairing damage and restoring the rights of way network.

After the floods, an LDNPA survey indicated that some 253 bridges needed repairing or replacing to increase the resilience of the rights of way network in case of future flooding disasters.

So far 180 bridges have been repaired by local contractors under the supervision of national park teams and where ever possible the project teams utilise local suppliers and materials to develop skills and capacity within small rural businesses across the county.

The landmark million pound repair was carried out to the bridleway running from Water Side House to Finsthwaite House, near Newby Bridge and involved Commercial Groundworks from High Bentham using 90 tonnes of local stone to improve and repair paths and drains.

"The unprecedented rainfall in November 2009 left a trail of destruction across the national park and what happened to this path was repeated in dozens and dozens of locations all over the national park," said LDNPA Paths for the Public Project Co-ordinator Dylan Jackman.

The significant progress that has already been made to restoring the national park’s rights of way network has only been made possible with funding from Defra, Cumbria County Council and the Rural Development Programme for England.

"There are still further repairs and improvements to be complete before the end of the project in March 2013. Work on the ground continues unabated during the winter months, meanwhile our in-house staff will be preparing work with landowners and partners so that river works can be complete within the Environment Agency consent period of June to September 2012," Dylan added.