The Langport River Project Update
In the past few weeks, we have seen the start of installations on or near the river Parrett at Langport. This first stage includes pontoons, canoe steps, a trim trail, bicycle ‘paraphernalia’, an outdoor table tennis table and solar lighting.
At the time of writing, solar lighting has been installed at Black Bridge and Westover footbridge, together with a table tennis table and ‘trim trail’ on Cocklemoor. For those not in the know, a trim trail is outdoor fitness equipment mainly designed with young people and adults in mind. The new table tennis table has been likened to a work of sculpture and requests put in to have more! Many thanks go to Travis Perkins for donating the ‘ballast’.
It hasn’t all been plain sailing since the funding was allocated in February. Although the project isn’t exactly Crossrail, the challenges for Langport Town Council have caused some frustration and created delays. Permissions from partner organisations, changes in suppliers and contractors, the weather, the water level in the River, negotiations with the funders, all conspire to create headaches – time consuming rather than insurmountable.
Work on the slipway at Black Bridge has been delayed until water levels in the river are reduced again in the autumn. The levels are currently at what is called ‘summer pen’ which means they are maintained at an artificially high level to keep the land damp and the ditches full for summer grazing. While we wait patiently, plans go ahead for the restoration of the car park there and the walkway between Black Bridge and Cocklemoor.
Later in the year further installations will follow with a deadline for the project to be completed by April 2020. And in the meantime locals and visitor continue to enjoy our beautiful river in canoes, on board the Duchess of Cocklemoor or walking along the bank.
Langport Town Council
July 2019
This Project is funded by
The European Agricultural Fund For Rural Development:
Europe investing in rural areas