[T]he Hadrian’s Wall path, the popular National Trail that follows the bank of the River Eden through Carlisle recently re-opened following extensive repairs after damage suffered during Storm Desmond.
The storm affected a one and a quarter mile section of the trail washing away river banks, damaging surfacing, retaining walls and steps. The repair has involved a joint approach due to the extent of the damage between Cumbria County Council, Carlisle City Council and Hadrian’s Wall Path Rangers.
Carlisle City Council’s main focus has been the reinstatement of the river bank through the Sheepmount sports stadium area where the river burst its bank, washing away a large section of the flood bank and damaging buildings, surfacing and infrastructure.
Cumbria County Council, funded through the Cumbria Countryside Access Fund as part of the Rural Payments Agency’s ‘Rural Development Programme for England’ has under taken a number of schemes to complete the repairs.
Working with contractors and the Hadrian’s Wall Path Rangers, works have involved repairing a revetment wall, improving drainage, replacing damaged steps and resurfacing a half-mile section of the path along the flood bank to the west of the Sheepmount.
These works have significantly improved the accessibility of the path and the experience for walkers using it.
Natural England’s Northern National Trails Manager, Sara Schultz, said:
“It is great news that this section of the iconic Hadrian’s Wall Path National Trail will re-open after the devastating floods in Carlisle two years ago. There are at least 10,000 end to end walkers using Hadrian’s Wall Path each year, including international visitors. Having the Path re-opened in time for the main tourism season will be good news for local businesses and visitors to Carlisle.”
David Gibson, Senior Countryside Access Officer at Cumbria County Council, said:
“This is a good example of partnership working, using the skills and experience of our staff and local partners to reinstate this popular footpath. It’s great that the repairs have been completed well ahead of spring so people can once again enjoy the river side path.”
The next scheme to be carried out using funding from the Rural Development Programme for England will be the repair of the Hadrian’s Wall Path at Park Broom to the East of Carlisle and the repair of another section of flood banking.
