***UPDATE*** Railway line temporary path closure

***UPDATED 21/3/18 ***

The path along the railway line is now closed, and will remain closed to all public access until at least the 29th March. 

Park Run on 24th March has been cancelled. We will do all we can to try and re-open the path for the weekend of 31st March, but this depends on contractor availability and the time required to re-build the wooden platform.

The path is being closed to allow for ground investigation works that will inform the design of a new bridge over the sluice channel, to be constructed this autumn. Contractors will be lifting the wooden walkway over the sluice bridge and drilling in to the concrete abutments that support the bridge. This will provide information that is important in specifying how  a new bridge is to be constructed, the weight that the abutments can support and how structurally sound it is.

A new bridge requires permission from Network Rail because of the proximity of the railway line and the construction drawings, method statement and risk assessment are currently being prepared to satisfy this. Once Network Rail fully understand the scheme then the procurement of contractors will commence, working to install a new bridge in October 2018. A conservator will be assessing the brick piers and providing recommendations as to how they should be carefully dismantled and restored as part of the bridge repair.

This work will take place alongside the improvements in the lagoon and freshwater lakes, under separate contracts but with some efficiencies in draining the lagoon.

During the works all public access along the path will be restricted, apologies for any inconvenience this may cause. The path will be re-opened as soon as possible once contractors have completed their investigations and the wooden platform can be put back in place.