Plans for Didcot fitness trail in crisis (From Herald Series)

Plans for Didcot fitness trail in crisis

11:31am Tuesday 17th November 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(2)

A PROJECT to build a fitness trail through Didcot’s Ladygrove estate is in crisis after the county council said it would not pay to maintain it.

In June, South Oxfordshire District Council put up £440,000 to improve the 4km Ladygrove Loop, which runs through the centre and south of the estate, equipping it with outdoor gym equipment and creating new play areas.

It also wanted to plant thousands of trees and wildflowers, and build new gateways at the estate’s Tyne Avenue and Cow Lane entrances.

Local residents and civic leaders said it would improve an area of the estate untouched since it was built, while encouraging more people to get fit on outdoor rowing and cycling machines. Work was due to start in the spring.

But the project has been put in jeopardy after Oxfordshire County Council described the scheme as “unwise” and “a future maintenance problem”.

Even though the county council would not have to pay a penny towards building the trail, its highways officers have told the district council they would refuse to give permission for resurfacing work in case they had to pay to help maintain the footpaths in the future.

They admit that footpaths in Ladygrove have “structural defects”, yet say they have not got the money to repair them. If no solution is found, it could deny the estate £440,000 of investment.

Oxfordshire County Council's head of transport, Steve Howell, said: “Highways officers have expressed concerns over potential maintenance costs associated with this project.

“However, we are happy to continue working with South Oxfordshire District Council to find a way forward.”

District councillor John Cotton said: “I’m upset that this has become an issue because I really thought there was agreement across all the various authorities.

“This is a good project that many, many people would like to see happen and I’m sure the county council would.”

Mr Cotton said: “The Ladygrove Loop project would give people the opportunity to enjoy their own backyard. To be able to pop out of your houses and enjoy games or a picnic with the family is a nice thing to have on your doorstep.

“This would transform parts of the estate.”

Town council leader Bill Service, who also sits on both the district and county councils, said he could not see what the county council was complaining about.

He said: “It’s my own opinion that there shouldn’t be a problem. It seems a very strange response when all these improvements are going to be made.”

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(2)