Shropshire Way improvements
An exciting joint project has started in the Shropshire Hills to improve a 200 metre section of the Shropshire Way Footpath which was suffering from erosion.
This problem was highlighted by the mid Shropshire and Shrewsbury Ramblers volunteer group who saw the need for this section to be improved. This was seen as a great opportunity to link up the local volunteers, the Probation Trust offenders and Shropshire Council’s Outdoor Recreation Team to complete a difficult and labour intensive task. The landowner has also helped out with moving materials to site making the job much easier.
Working together the partners are installing a surfaced path to replace what was a steep and muddy section of the Shropshire Way. This section of path is important as it links a local pub and campsite as well as being a section of Shropshire’s premiere promoted walking route.
Councillor Gwilym Butler, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for leisure, libraries and culture, said:
“The Shropshire Way is a great way to explore the beautiful Shropshire countryside and I am pleased that it is being improved so that local people and visitors can continue to enjoy it.
“Partnership projects such as this help the council in maintaining these valuable rights of way, which can be enjoyed by people of all ages for generations to come. We are grateful for the hard efforts from all those involved.”
Richard Knight, Shropshire Council’s Outdoor Recreation Team Leader, added:
“In just four days the Probation Trust offenders and local volunteers have installed over 100 metres of the new path with support and expertise from my team. There is more to do, but this is a really positive start to a project that links offenders into local community needs and is also supporting the tourism economy in Shropshire. We look forward to supporting similar projects in the future.”
Shropshire Council’s Outdoor Recreation Service and West Mercia Probation Trust have joined forces to work together on improving Shropshire’s Outdoor Recreation opportunities for local communities via Community Payback. The project started this summer and will run for two years initially. The offenders will be undertaking projects such as that described above as well as more routine work such as litter picking, clearing paths of vegetation and repairs to fences, gates and stiles. This project is an example of how their work can support specific local community needs.
