Watton Parish Council have been successful in obtaining a grant from the Lissett Wind Farm Community Fund to enable them to improve accessibility of a local public right of way.
The path is a popular local walk but has often suffered from poor accessibility through the winter period. The works undertaken have ensured that users will be able to complete this local walk year-round.
The scheme also allowed the improvement of the surface at several kissing gates across the parish which had become heavily worn because of the popularity of the paths with local residents.
The works were led by the Parish Council who received the funding from the Lissett Wind Farm Community Fund. The countryside access team at East Riding of Yorkshire Council and the Parish Council provided the match funding needed to secure the grant. The total cost of the project came to £3,200.
Councillor Jane Evison, portfolio holder for economic growth, investment and tourism at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “This demonstrates that parish councils who have powers to look after local public rights of way can make improvements proactively and Watton Parish Council should be held as an example of best practice of this. We hope that other parishes will also come forward with similar proposals.
“This scheme will help the local residents of the Parish use a public right of way throughout the year. This work would not have been achievable without the commitment of the Parish Council, the support of the local landowner and the grant provided by the Lissett Wind Farm Community Fund.”
John Hague, project coordinator at Watton Parish Council, said: “Over a twenty-year period, Watton Parish Council were given many grants which allowed paths to be cleared, bridges rebuilt, and stiles replaced with safer and more accessible kissing gates.
“The Lissett Wind Farm Community Fund has allowed work beyond the original scheme and will make this path usable all year round and accessible for all ability walkers. It opens several circular walks in the area.
“This work would not have been possible without the fund.”
