Padiham eyesore railway line to become park
Work has started on the £1.22m scheme to transform Padiham's derelict railway line into the town's long-awaited park.
The works, funded by the North West Development Agency and led by Lancashire County Council's Remade in Lancashire team, will create a new green area with landscaping and lighting along the former Rose Grove to Padiham Railway.
"The former railway line has been in a disgraceful condition for over 30 years and quite rightly the people of Padiham have said they are no longer prepared to tolerate an eyesore cutting through the heart of the town" said Cllr Marcus Johnstone, county cabinet member for community planning and partnerships.
Construction works have just begun and are expected to take ten months to complete. Work on the site includes the construction of a surfaced footpath/cycleway, creation of new access points, the removal of a bridge at Shakespeare Street, the lowering of an existing embankment and replacement of some low walls with railings to improve visibility across the site.
In the central area of the site around Pendle Street a more formal parkland area is to be created with new grassed areas, tree and shrub planting. Existing stone walls will be lowered and railings introduced to improve visibility across the site.
The park will become part of the national Sustran cycle network.
