Warwickshire News Mine

The comments came during several weeks of consultation, including a three day exhibition event at Kenilworth Library, to give local people the chance to have a say on a key part of a major project to create a cycleway from Kenilworth to the University of Warwick and Berkswell.

The bridge across the Coventry Road is a major stepping stone in the Connect2 Kenilworth walking and cycling scheme. The plan is to install a cycle and pedestrian bridge over the A429, in the location of the old railway bridge, removed 40 years ago.

Warwickshire County Council’s Countryside team worked closely with the county’s Design Services and Connect2 Steering Group to come up with some bridge designs, and the people of Kenilworth voted with a clear majority in favour of Design A ‘the plain bridge’.

Of the 303 people responding, 53 per cent selected Design A, compared with 24 per cent for Design B, 20 per cent for Design C and 3 per cent had no preference.

The preferred colour of the bridge was split relatively evenly between the olive-green option (44%) and the silver-grey option (42%). The local Connect 2 Steering Group decided therefore to do further analysis work on the results before making a final decision on bridge colour.

The Chair of the local Connect2 Steering Group, Warwickshire County Councillor John Whitehouse (Kenilworth Abbey) said: “We are extremely pleased with the results of this informal consultation, and the number and quality of the responses received, which were predominantly from Kenilworth residents, but spread right across the town.

“Many useful comments were received not only about the bridge design and colour choices, but also more generally about the bridge and its surrounding environment. These comments are being analysed to make sure we pick up all the issues that respondents have raised. Our thanks to everyone who participated in this consultation.”

The full consultation results are being published on the Connect2 Kenilworth web site, and will be circulated to stakeholders and interested parties on request.

The chosen design of bridge will now be worked up into a set of detailed designs and proposals, to be submitted to the county council’s Regulatory Committee for planning approval.

Each option includes an ‘upstand’ on the parapet to ensure that the crossing is also ‘wildlife friendly’ as the new bridge will reconnect the wildlife corridor along the former railway.

Images and information are also available at http://www.connect2kenilworth.org.uk

Link to WCC