News & Media > Waterway Services

03:02:2010

British Waterways' project improves access to River Lee

May Gurney has completed a visitor improvement project on the towpath on the River Lee in Hertfordshire, creating a four-mile wheelchair and pushchair friendly route.

The improvement works, which included resurfacing the towpath and widening it up to 1.6 metres in places, were carried out under a long-term framework contract with British Waterways for the maintenance and improvement of canals and rivers. The four-year contract, with a possible two-year extension, includes a range of maintenance and improvement activities across approximately 80 to 150 projects each year.

The River Lee stretches 26 miles through the heart of the Lee Valley Regional Park, which provides miles of green open space, lakes and waterways for visitors to explore, and is home to a huge variety of water loving wildlife. The towpath enhancement works have improved access to the river and the nearby country park.

Antonia Zotali, British Waterways’ senior project manager, said: “This section of the River Lee Navigation is extremely popular with walkers, cyclists and anglers and as a result the towpath had become worn and uneven.

“The improvements will ensure that everyone can have safe and easy access to the river and surrounding park all year round.”

Click here to read the full ‘waterscape.com’ report about this project.

Click here to read more about May Gurney’s work in partnership with British Waterways.