Continuing on from recent post…
Work on the next section of a walking and cycling link connecting Laira Rail Bridge and Plymstock will get under way on Monday 15 January.
The popular route will be extended further east along the railway alignment into Broxton Drive, at the entrance to the Saltram Meadow estate.
Part of the new path will run via Rock Gardens to avoid disturbing an area of environmentally sensitive habitat and a small section will be built on raised decking to protect the rare ‘Horrid Ground Weaver’ spider, found during extensive ecological surveys.
Rock Gardens itself has also recently benefited from resurfacing and street lighting under separate plans. 
The walking and cycling link is being fully funded through the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership’s Local Transport Board and Section 106 contributions and is expected to open in March.
Councillor Patrick Nicholson, Cabinet Member for Strategic Transport, Housing and Planning said: “This new link will mean that pedestrians, cyclists, joggers and those using mobility scooters and wheelchairs will be able to enjoy a virtually level, traffic-free journey from the Saltram Meadow development to Laira Rail Bridge and beyond. It will connect with the improvements being made between Laira Rail Bridge and the Barbican, which will also be completed in the spring.”
The plans were approved in December and can be viewed on our planning pages – the reference is 17/01978/FUL.
Future plans will see the route continue further east and connect into a proposed pedestrian and cycle bridge crossing over Billacombe Road, expected to be built this year.
Its nice to see this old line slowly being made useful again, even if it is taking ages. Better slow than never I guess!
Hopefully they can extend it the other way along the old Friary branch line into Friary Park
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