[A] new footpath has opened which will make it safer for children to get to and from school in Kirkby Lonsdale.
The walkway, adjacent to the Masters Grange housing development, is the result of years of local discussions and a successful partnership between South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) and Kirkby Lonsdale Town Council.
SLDC contributed £14,000 towards construction and landscaping after agreeing to lease three pieces of land to the town council to enable the project to go ahead.
SLDC’s leader, Cllr Giles Archibald, said: “The new footpath means children no longer have to use four busy public roads in order to get to school. Parents can now drop off their children in Booth’s supermarket car park from where the new walkway leads towards the Queen Elizabeth School campus. The footpath also connects one end of the town to the centre, improving access for the general public.
“This has been made possible thanks to the collaborative working of district councillor, Cllr Nick Cotton, Kirkby Lonsdale Town Council and the local community.”
Town councillor, Allan Muirhead, said: “This footpath has been many years in the making. Right from the beginning we listened to what the community said and local residents have been involved in every aspect of the project from the design and route of it right down to the finishing touches. It is a good example of how an important local initiative can be made possible by an effective partnership between town and district councils.”
Local resident Peter Duckworth, whose home overlooks the footpath, said: “Initially we had some reservations about it but it is much better than I’d expected. Once the plants have become established it should look very neat and be attractive place to walk.”
Work to construct and landscape the footpath took four weeks to complete.
