Ladybridge works almost complete
THE first phase of a major project to enhance the historic Ladybridge and improve links between Tamworth town centre and Ventura Park is almost complete.
The main road into Tamworth once passed across Ladybridge, but although the bridge was closed to traffic in 1984, the road was left intact.
Work on the £500,000 improvement scheme began in March this year and has involved:
- Replacement of the pavement and roadway with a level surface, to be shared by pedestrians and cyclists
- Extension of the York stone paving stones from the Castle entrance, along the whole length of Ladybridge
- Application of a golden gravel surfacing to complement the flag stones
- Installation of new bollards
A sculpted timeline celebrating Tamworth’s heritage and history is yet to be installed on the bridge, and gaps where the six flagstones will be placed have been temporarily filled with tarmac. This is temporary measure which will be removed once the timeline is ready to be installed.
The six flagstones will be hand-carved using mallet and chisel in the traditional Saxon style with images and text celebrating six of the most notable events in Tamworth’s history. Tamworth Castle currently asking visitors to fill in a questionnaire suggesting the six historical events they would like to see depicted on the timeline.
Heritage lighting columns and waymarkers will also be installed along Ladybridge, with all this work expected to be complete in the next three to four months.
The Ladybridge works are part of the wider Gateways Project, which aims to improve the physical links between the town centre, Ventura Park and the railway station, making the routes more attractive and increasing the number of pedestrians and cyclists using them. They have been carried out through a partnership between Tamworth Borough Council and Staffordshire County Council.
The second phase of the project is expected to start in April next year and will extend the improvements from Riverdrive into Ventura Park.
Cllr Steve Claymore, Tamworth Borough Council Cabinet member for Economy & Education, said: “The Ladybridge works and the wider Gateways Project is a crucial part of our long-term, ongoing work to improve and regenerate Tamworth town centre and I am pleased to see that the first stage of the works are almost finished.
“Ladybridge provides an attractive and welcoming link between the town centre and Ventura Park, which will encourage people to make the most of what Tamworth has to offer.
“This sits alongside a wide range of public and private sector regeneration projects, both ongoing and in the pipeline, to secure the future of the town centre.”
Staffordshire County Council’s economy and transport leader, Cllr Mark Winnington, said: “The Ladybridge route will be a long-term asset to the people of Tamworth and enhance a pedestrian and cycle link from the town centre to Ventura Park. The heritage timeline will provide an insight into the borough’s history and it’s good to see that local people will have an input into its creation.
“We look forward to the completion of the first phase. The link will complement Gungate, the cultural quarter development and other improvements across Tamworth which really demonstrates that this is the place to live, work, visit and do business.”
That’s an improvement!
That’s an improvement!
Be careful with the side bits tho. Apparently a child fell and she got cuts because they are sharp
Be careful with the side bits tho. Apparently a child fell and she got cuts because they are sharp
Is this only for walking then? I thought they were linking up with transport. ….
Is this only for walking then? I thought they were linking up with transport. ….
It was all tarmacked & then they ruined it by doing that with the stones
It was all tarmacked & then they ruined it by doing that with the stones
Its was fine as it was, the money would have been better spent on repairing the terrible state of our roads.!
Its was fine as it was, the money would have been better spent on repairing the terrible state of our roads.!
Its was fine as it was, the money would have been better spent on repairing the terrible state of our roads.!
Looks nice and in an historic part of town that’s often forgotten. Some people will find something wrong with everything.
Looks nice and in an historic part of town that’s often forgotten. Some people will find something wrong with everything.
Looks nice and in an historic part of town that’s often forgotten. Some people will find something wrong with everything.
Looks good!
Looks good!
Looks good!
something well done by the council but as usual negative comments by people!
Something’s are better simply because they look better and make the place more attractive not just about the cost. A bit like lipstick.
something well done by the council but as usual negative comments by people!
Something’s are better simply because they look better and make the place more attractive not just about the cost. A bit like lipstick.
something well done by the council but as usual negative comments by people!
Something’s are better simply because they look better and make the place more attractive not just about the cost. A bit like lipstick.
My comment was just a warning that until it’s ‘bedded’ down, people could hurt themselves cos it’s sharp
Another great waste of money by the council, ok it looks alot better but it will not help encourage people into the town because of a nice footpath. People will not walk with bags of shopping in the rain, its been said so many times before that people want free parking, if this was to happen people would come back to the town. A great investment would of been to save the money you just spent on the footpath and put it towards free car parking for the year. I can not remember the last time i went into town shopping. An affordable tram service or land train would of been a better idea, any decisions involving public expenses should be put forward to the public before decisions are made
Free parking is never going to happen.
It raises over £900,000 per year. Money the council would have to find from elsewhere.
Vacancy in the town is not that high. The same money is received from a M&S store as would from a mobile phone shop in business rates.
A train or a tram £20 million then £4-5 each to ride it. Fattest town in the country for a while so walking is a good thing surely? I live at hopwas and quite frequently walk to town and ventura rather than take the car unless I’ve got lots to carry so I think it’s a good thing and glad to spend some of my council tax on something I’ll get use of. Free parking wouldn’t make a difference as all the car parks in town are usually full anyway.
I just can not see how putting a fancy footpath will help connect ventura to the town. Will be interesting to see in 9 months time if its done what they expected it to
Well I walk this route with my shopping in the rain!
On Tuesday (market day) the car park opposite the police station was chocca so plenty of people prepared to pay. They would get nothing by giving free parking on that day. No money and no extra visitors.
Needs some market stalls on it to make the walk between the two more attractive! Come on TBC use your brain! How’s this going encourage people to walk between the two?!?
Great idea that would encourage people to do the walk
Steve… Hold that thought 😉
Destination Tamworth have the ideas.
I’ve just walked that way - why are there tarmac areas instead of the paving stones? Looks ‘unfinished’ - are they going to be replaced with stones?
The tarmac bits are where the timeline stones will be placed once they have been carved. As soon as those stones are ready, the tarmac will be removed abnd the stones placed there.
Some benches down the middle would be cool.
The car parks in town are never chocca, I work in town so I know… I have to pay n display and never not find a space..I can’t see people parking in town and walking to Ventura to do heavy shopping..and who in their right mind would park at Ventura then walk into town? Are they putting special attractions along the bridge?? Maybe put the market stalls on it to make the connection!!??
Oh how lovely
Ok it’s easy to blame the council,the politicians and the government, what the town actually needs is the general public like you and me to.support the small independent retailers and to buy local. The service is generally better as well as the product in many cases. If everyone started using the town then maybe the major players in the retail industry would invest in the town. Yes the council’s have a part to play in encouraging more independent businesses into the town but it’s a two way thing. Maybe the market would benefit from being bigger and maybe it will grow. Tamworth is a great town and we need to advertise what we have rather than complaining about it. Just my opinion though,I am no retail expert and am quite happy for others to prove my opinion wrong
Ok it’s easy to blame the council,the politicians and the government, what the town actually needs is the general public like you and me to.support the small independent retailers and to buy local. The service is generally better as well as the product in many cases. If everyone started using the town then maybe the major players in the retail industry would invest in the town. Yes the council’s have a part to play in encouraging more independent businesses into the town but it’s a two way thing. Maybe the market would benefit from being bigger and maybe it will grow. Tamworth is a great town and we need to advertise what we have rather than complaining about it. Just my opinion though,I am no retail expert and am quite happy for others to prove my opinion wrong
I don’t think this road was ever a problem. Being a none driver I often walk this route if I need to go to Ventura the problem is the bit from the end of this road to Ventura where you have to either choose to across a car park and vandalised underpass or try and negotiate your way across the big beefeater island while dodging traffic. Personally I think it was a waste of time resurfacing a bridge that was fine to walk across in the first place.
I don’t think this road was ever a problem. Being a none driver I often walk this route if I need to go to Ventura the problem is the bit from the end of this road to Ventura where you have to either choose to across a car park and vandalised underpass or try and negotiate your way across the big beefeater island while dodging traffic. Personally I think it was a waste of time resurfacing a bridge that was fine to walk across in the first place.