The West Midlands Sustrans Connect2 projects

1.34.31pm GMT Thu 13th Dec 2007

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As you may know Sustrans Connect2 won the people's £50 lottery, below is an outline of the projects that will be happening in the West Midlands.

Birmingham, Sutton Coldfield, and the Plants Brook Route

The Plants Brook Valley is a wonderful open space running through north east Birmingham. It is large enough to be considered as the local countryside for communities in the area, providing fresh air, recreation and relaxation. The Connect2 challenge is to link the nearby communities to it, providing access for schools, hospitals, Sutton Coldfield town centre, the enormous Sutton Park and, at its southern end, the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal Towpath.

Hereford, Rotherwas River Wye Crossing

The River Wye and the railway both serve as effective barriers to walking and cycling, especially to the south east of Hereford towards the industrial area at Rotherwas and the Agricultural College at Holme Lacy. This scheme will make use of the existing sewer treatment works bridge, owned by Welsh Water, to make the vital crossing of the River Wye.

Kenilworth to Berkswell Greenway and Warwick University

This scheme provides an integral and much needed element in the local walking and cycling network by making a series of routes incorporating the Berkswell Greenway and connections to Warwick University and Kenilworth town centre. This scheme will most certainly be very popular with local residents and also countless students travelling to and from the university campus. Efforts to upgrade the greenway have been underway already via the 'Friends of Kenilworth Greenway Group' and this Connect2 proposal could be the catalyst for that being done sooner rather than later. Importantly, a new bridge over the A429 Coventry Road will be constructed in order to connect the greenway to the Kenilworth Common area and into the town centre.

Rugby, The Leicester Road Viaduct

The northern parts of Rugby, including Brownsover, Newbold and the Cosford industrial and employment area, are all severed by the Leicester Road and the West Coast Main Line Railway. This Connect2 project sweeps over both, firstly on the majestic Leicester Road Viaduct and secondly on a new bridge over the electrified lines. This Connect2 proposal also links the canal towpaths to the town centre and the town centre to Cawston via the Sow Brook and the proposed new railway paths.

Shrewsbury, The Severnside Gap

Shrewsbury has an almost continuous riverside path along the Severn as the river loops around the town except for the section between Welsh Bridge and the station. This scheme aims to complete this riverside promenade by making a much better passage under the mainline railway at Castle Foregate. It will also complete a circuit of the town by forging a link along the remaining central line of the former canal towpath. Additionally, it will give a good route into town for the residents of the Mount Pleasant area. This network will be sufficiently fine-grained and direct that many local journeys will now be most easily achieved by foot or bicycle.

Worcester: A Severn Bridge at Diglis Lock and Link to Powick

A walking and cycling bridge over the River Severn will create a new map of the city for people living on either side of the river, whilst also opening up a circular riverside walk with views of the cathedral. As this crossing will focus attention on the south western quadrant of the city, it will also be fundamental in tackling the long-sought connection to Powick by either avoiding the bypass roundabout or ensuring proper signalised crossings are installed.

You can find out more about Sustrans Connect2 projects at http://www.sustransconnect2.org.uk/