THE long-awaited official opening of the latest section of the Chester Millennium Greenway is to be coupled with the start of a sponsored walk
Residents of Guilden Sutton and Mickle Trafford will be able to get in to the city centre traffic-free when the latest section of the Chester Millennium Greenway opens later this month.
The new Greenway will be officially launched with a sponsored walk and fun day from 10am on Sunday, October 25.
The Greenway includes a new pedestrian bridge over the Chester to Manchester railway line as well as a series of links and access points. These will be situated in
Fairfield Road, Mannings Lane (South), the A41 at Greenfield Lane, an access point near Guilden Sutton, and Station Lane, Mickle Trafford.
Work on the project started in June and the 16 week scheme was funded by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) as part of REVIVE - the project which aims to reclaim 170 hectares of brownfield land in Cheshire and Warrington.
The new Greenway has been designed and will be supported on site by Cheshire West and Chester Council.
The 6km (just under four miles) sponsored walk is in aid of the Hospice of the Good Shepherd at Backford. Anyone wanting to take part and raise money for the Gordon Lane hospice can request a sponsor form from Jemma Hamilton at the hospice on 01244 851811 or email jemma.hamilton@hospicegs.com
Cheshire West and Chester Council prosperity executive member, Cllr Herbert Manley, will officially open the Greenway with a ribbon cutting ceremony to start the sponsored walk at 10am on Sunday, October 25, at the New Scene building in Newton.
Activities at the fun day will include a climbing wall, face-painting, willow weaving, balloon sculptures, birds of prey and a street magician.
The Cycle Chester team will also be on hand to offer free bike maintenance, cyber bikes, where adult bikes are attached to a frame and linked to a laptop that runs a virtual reality cycling course and cycling information throughout the day.
Cllr Manley said: “It’s fantastic that people and children can now reach the centre of Chester from these two villages by an entirely car-free route.
“More journeys made by foot and bike can only benefit our community and I know that this new extension will be extremely popular.”
Audrey Hodgkinson from Friends of the Chester Millennium Greenway volunteer group said: “The extension of our already much used and loved Millenniun
Greenway will bring improved health, draw more communities together, with the added benefit - fewer cars on our roads.”
The Lord Mayor of Chester, Hoole and Newton Cllr John Ebo, said: “I have been a great supporters of the Greenway since its inception 10 or more years ago and am pleased not only to welcome the extension to see the Greenway established as a permanent corridor between the countryside and city.
”To celebrate the opening of the extension with a sponsored walk is inspired and I am particularly pleased that the Hospice of the Good Shepherd is the nominated charity as it is one of my charities as Lord Mayor.”