Bowthorpe Southern Park path set for £30k repair works

Officials at Norwich City Council are seeking to spend some £30,000 on upgrades to the path at Bowthorpe Southern Park.

The route linking Bowthorpe to Colney has suffered extensive damage from flooding in recent years and has become difficult to use.

City Hall hopes to provide a sustainable repair to the path making it future proof and resistant to damage in the future. 

The path through Bowthorpe Southern Park (Image: Google Maps) The authority's Labour-run cabinet will meet next week and consider the release of £30,000 funding to cover the costs of the scheme, which is currently estimated at around £24,000.

The upgraded path will provide access to the foot bridge over the River Yare to Colney, Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, the John Innes Centre and key public transport links from Watton Road. 

Officials also seek to improve pedestrian links to the countryside for new locals in Three Score, where the council hopes to have around 1,000 homes built. 

The new path will be lined on both sides by wood and stone gabions - cages filled with rocks - will also be used to prevent further flood damage. 

READ MORE: Future of major Norfolk road scheme remains uncertain after budget

Horses at Bowthorpe Southern Park (Image: Antony Kelly) A report to the council said: "The pedestrian path is important for people's health and wellbeing, providing a way people can get to work or to the hospital for appointments or to visit loved ones without having to use a vehicle and pay for parking, as well as easier access to Watton Road to catch a bus.

"The path is an important link for people who are also on a low income living in the nearby North and West Earlham, Bowthorpe, Larkman and Marlpit housing estates.

"The aim is to provide a sustainable repair to the path making it future-proof and resistant to damage from future flooding."