Work underway in ambitious plans to improve pathway connections
Major works to connect Dartford’s Central Park to Brooklands Lakes by diverting part of river Darent away from one of two historic tunnels under Princes Road are underway.
The ongoing project to route part of the Darent Valley Path through the tunnel will take around twelve weeks and will make the Darent Valley Path easier to use for walkers and cyclists by reducing the need to cross the busy Princes Road.
Additional works are in progress at Millpond Road in the town to ensure the path continues to run alongside the Darent River under the railway bridge. In total the earthworks will move more than 1,000 cubic metres of material to divert the normal river flow and enable the building of the pathways.
Both projects are part of a longer term £multi-million programme with the Department for Communities and Local Government and SUSTRANS to improve the Darent Valley Path’s link between the town and the river Thames.
Jeremy Kite, Leader of Dartford Borough Council, says these innovative works are part of a multi-million pound programme to improve Dartford Central Park:
“Central Park is a vital green space for Dartford residents and we’re want it to stay that way by increasing its size, bringing back traditional facilities and making it easier to use.
These works are significant as they create better links between the fantastic Brooklands Lakes to and from the town centre. The river Darent has been hidden from view for too long and these new pathways make it much easier to walk through to the lakes and beyond.
Earlier this year we introduced the first ‘Parkies’ back into Dartford and announced funding to create an interactive water playground, combining traditional values with contemporary facilities for our residents and park visitors. We’ve also been funding improvements by the Dartford and District Angling Preservation Society to make the pathways around the lakes disabled friendly.
We’ll be making further park announcements in coming months.”
Notes
At the council’s park exhibition in February 2007 more than three thousand local residents and town visitors saw the council’s plans to restore Central Park to its Edwardian splendour, improving access to the enlarged space across the river Darent and Acacia
Also included in the Central Park vision was the return of park rangers, new visitor centre, tea room and a traditional bandstand. The first of a team of ‘Parkies’ was introduced in July 2008.
The Darent Valley Path runs for 19 miles from Sevenoaks, where it joins the river Darent, to the Thames at Dartford.
The ‘Water Play’ zone is part of a £200,000 project, designed to stimulate and challenge children of all abilities. Due to the interactive nature of the equipment this will allow, the opportunity for children to explore their imagination, while stimulating and enriching their physical and mental development. The water used will be stored and recycled for irrigation of the park. It is anticipated that it will be completed and ready for use in Spring 2009.
