Wyre Estuary Restoration projects progress over winter
16th of December, 2024
Construction has commenced to restore the 2.5km of pathway between Wyre Estuary Country Park, Stanah and Skippool Picnic Area and car park.
The Wyre Estuary Gateway Project has received £243,099 from the UK Government through the Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and is coordinated by Wyre Council in partnership with Lancashire County Council and Wyre Rivers Trust.
The project aims to restore the length of the public bridleway. This project aims to increase user accessibility by resurface the pathway, infilling potholes and raising the pathway height elevation, to achieve pathway restoration. It will also provide customers with new informative signage about the wildlife and cultural heritage of the Wyre Estuary as well as promoting active travel between key visitor locations alongside the River Wyre.
The path will be closed for three months with alternative routes suggested on notices placed on the route of the path for the duration of the works.
This pathway forms part of the Wyre Way connecting the local coastline from Fleetwood to Knott End-on-Sea. This pathway connects our amenity spots like the Wyre Estuary Country Park to the local area and runs through ecologically important areas that hold protective designations including a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Biological Heritage Site for the special and unique ungrazed saltmarshes and the Wyre Estuary fish and bird life.
Due to its location within the estuary, it is tidally inundated on a regular basis, and this has contributed to the degradation of the path.
Councillor Peter Le Marinel, Portfolio Holder for Planning Policy and Economic Development said,
“Given the level of use along this route and the concern for public safety, it is essential the pathway is improved to a safer and more accessible condition, with the additional benefit of prolonging the longevity of the path as an effective Public Rights of Way for the future.
At present, the path is degraded in several locations. Extensive mud, narrowing of the path and retention of surface water has resulted in making full accessibility challenging. We’re committed to ensuring all our residents and visitors can enjoy the park and so we are aiming to restore this pathway through height elevation and re-surfacing to significantly improve the pathway condition, to enable greater accessibility.”
The pathway is being improved to put it in a safer and more accessible condition, with the additional benefit of prolonging the longevity of the path as an effective route for walkers, cyclists and people using all terrain mobility scooters for the future and contributing to the council’s commitments to improving the environment and ensuring everyone can enjoy Wyre’s great outdoors to the full.
If you have any questions, please email PROW@lancashire.gov.uk or countrysideservice@wyre.gov.uk.
Typical work hours will be from 7am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. The pathway will be closed during working hours, although this may be subject to change.