Pooh sticks herald Rickmansworth Festival

A new bridge has been opened in time for the Rickmansworth Festival. Straddling the River Chess, the wooden crossing connects Riverside Drive and footpaths for Rickmansworth town centre with the Grand Union Canal and the Aquadrome. The new design replaces a temporary scaffold bridge and includes ramp access for wheelchair users.

Leader of the Council, Ann Shaw, said:

"We have been keen to open the bridge in time for the Rickmansworth Festival as it will provide easy access to the event for many people, including wheelchair users. It is an excellent place to play pooh sticks.

"I'd like to also thank our partners for their tremendous support."

The works were funded by Summerleaze (£10,000), SITA (£25,000), Biffaward (£16,000), Hertfordshire County Council's Highways Department (£16,000) and Three Rivers District Council (£10,000). Groundwork Thames Valley fundraised and administered the contract on behalf of the District Council.

Stewart Pomeroy, from Groundwork Thames Valley, said:

"This bridge will improve access for Rickmansworth residents to the network of footpaths in the Colne Valley Regional Park. So now there is no excuse for not getting out to explore the countryside on your doorstep in this landscape of water, woodland and farmland."

The bridge will form part of a new circular walk which will link the Aquadrome to Rickmansworth town centre. The bridge will also provide easier access to the Colne Valley Regional Park, a natural area of 43 square miles. Rickmansworth provides the 'northern gateway' to the regional park which includes the Colne Valley Trail.

SITA UK delivers a wide variety of recycling and waste management services to businesses and residents throughout the UK.

Biffa is a leading waste management business in the UK. It provides waste collection, treatment and recycling, and disposal services to around 75,000 local and national customers in the industrial, commercial and municipal sectors. Biffaward is a multimillion pound environment fund managed by Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts (RSWT), which utilises landfill tax credits donated by Biffa Waste Services. The aim of Biffaward is to support projects that will be of lasting environmental benefit, improve quality of life and foster vibrant communities.