The £500,000 towpath improvement project, which we're undertaking, in partnership with national walking and cycling charity Sustrans, began on 6 June and is expected to be completed by 23 August 2022. Sustrans received funding from the Department for Transport (DfT) in response to the ‘Paths for Everyone' review of the National Cycle Network in 2019.
The works, which are being undertaken by our engineering contractor Kier, will improve, resurface and widen a 780-metre section of towpath running south from the B4032 Leighton Road Bridge 114 to Bridge 115A (Mentmore Gardens). The towpath has been closed since the project started, and towpath notices display a diversion route via Mentmore Gardens, Mentmore Road and Wing Road.
Re-opening the towpath
Spencer Green, our project manager, explains: “We are temporarily re-opening the section of the Grand Union Canal towpath that is currently being improved between Leighton Road Bridge 114 and Mentmore Gardens Bridge 115A, to allow visitors to the Linslade Canal Festival on Saturday 30 July to access the event via the towpath.
"As the towpath improvements works have not yet been completed, the towpath surface is at the stage where it has been flattened and compacted, but it hasn't yet been sealed with a tarmac layer, so it won't be ideal for cyclists, mobility scooters and pushchairs. We will need to close the towpath again from Monday 1 August so that we can complete the improvement works.”
The project
The Leighton Buzzard towpath improvement project will also improve a 2.1km section running north from Lock 27 (Leighton Lock) to Bridge 110 (Sandhole Bridge) in Old Linslade. Here there will be surfacing improvements, vegetation trimming and biodiversity enhancements. The works in this section do not require the towpath to be closed.
The towpath in Leighton Buzzard forms part of the Sustrans National Cycle Network ‘Paths for Everyone', which aims to deliver a traffic-free, more consistent and accessible network for everyone, including walkers, cyclists, families and people with mobility requirements.
The project builds on previous towpath improvements undertaken by us in Leighton Buzzard in 2015, between Leighton Road and Leighton Lock. It will add a further 2.9km of improved towpath, resulting in a 4.1km stretch of continuous high quality towpath through Leighton Buzzard and surrounding areas.
The towpath improvement project planned for Leighton Buzzard is one of a series of DfT Active Travel funded towpath improvement projects being delivered by the us across England and Wales, helping the nation's waterways to provide high quality off-road routes for walking and cycling, and an important ‘natural health service' across the country.
Impoving our towpaths
Ros Daniels, our regional director for London & South East, explains: “Research shows that being next to water improves your mental and physical health. The Canal & River Trust wants to make its canals more welcoming, safe and clean to encourage more people to use them, and enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits of walking and cycling, and being by the water.
“Canal & River Trust ecologists and heritage advisers are involved in the design of the works to ensure the works are sensitive to local wildlife and heritage structures, making enhancements where possible, including hedge laying, vegetation and tree management.
“We welcome the support of local people to help deliver some of the wildlife or heritage improvements with other volunteers, or to help look after the new towpath environment once it is complete.”
Linslade Canal Festival
The Linslade Canal Festival, organised by Leighton Linslade Town Council, takes place at Tiddenfoot Waterside Park on Saturday 30 July. The free event, which celebrates canal life, conservation and the countryside, includes music, historic and trade boats, crafts, food stalls and family activities. For more information visit the Leighton Linslade Town Council website.
