Nottinghamshire villagers upset as controversial closure of nature trail drags on

Villagers in a Nottinghamshire village have been left frustrated by the 10-month closure of a popular nature trail - but a solution could be on the horizon. A stretch of the cycle and pedestrian pathway between Holme Lane and Stragglethorpe Road in Radcliffe-on-Trent has been closed since January, when the banks of the path were dug into from the grounds of a traveller campsite.

The damage was done at the rear of Cedar Lodge Caravan park, off the A52, when a digger on the site appeared to have removed a section of embankment earth. Nottinghamshire County Council then closed off the route with a temporary fence, with a sign in July stating there were “no timescales” on repair work.

Those living in the village had become impatient over news on the repairs in the months since, according to local representatives. Councillor Anne McLeod, chair of Radcliffe-on-Trent Parish Council, said: “The village is still very upset about it, it’s a facility that we can’t use so we really are quite frustrated.”

Councillor Roger Upton, Conservative ward representative for the Radcliffe-on-Trent ward at Rushcliffe Borough Council, said he had been attempting to obtain a formal timescale for the works.

He said: “It’s rather annoying to us all, residents and councillors. I can understand it’s frustrating for them – cyclists, walkers and horse riders- they’re concerned about it, how long is it going to remain closed.

“We don’t seem to have any dates- we are trying to get those dates by the county council. It’s a big project and difficult to access- I suppose the County Council have got a lot of things to think about.”

Nottinghamshire County Council said it has now received, and is considering, options for the re-stabilisation works. It is also communicating with neighbouring landowners to figure out how the works, requiring “heavy machinery”, will take place.

In an update, attributed to a conservation manager, the council said: “We understand the frustrations of the local community and are continuing to work hard to resolve a complex issue that requires a technical, engineered solution.

“Please do not attempt to circumvent the barriers that are in place to use the closed section – they are there to ensure your safety. We will provide a further update once we have agreed the preferred option, how the work will be carried out, and have an estimated timeframe for completion.”

The £250,000 ‘greenway’ route for cyclists, walkers and horse riders, links Radcliffe-on-Trent to Cotgrave and opened in 2019. The impacted part of the trail sits on a former railway line.