Walkers in a Suffolk village are set for a safer journey to the shop and village hall this year thanks to a new footpath, partly funded by Babergh District Council.
The path, along The Street in Assington near Sudbury, means that residents can now walk to their post office, farm shop and village hall - shielded from the road and avoiding traffic on a potentially dangerous bend.
Joan Peacock, Assington Parish Council Clerk, said: “We are delighted with the new footpath – and pleased that so many people are using it.”
She explained: “In 2002, when our Post Office Stores in the centre of the village closed, the business was taken over by Chris and Hilary Heseltine, fruit farmers, and moved to the Farm Shop.
“The lack of pavements through The Street meant road safety was always an issue, but with more drivers coming to Assington to visit the Farm Shop, and then the conversion of nearby Pump Farm to a special school with its extra traffic, the problem became potentially more serious.”
In 2004 Assington Parish Council launched its Licensed Paths project and, with kind permission from Mr and Mrs Heseltine to use their land, plans for a footpath began.
The footpath cost just over £5,000 to construct – of which Babergh gave almost half. The remainder was sourced from Assington Parish Council, Suffolk County Council, and private fundraising. The path was completed in November 2006 and now the final fencing alongside is being put in place.
Peter Berry, Babergh’s Countryside Officer, said: “When we heard about the Parish Council’s quest for a footpath, we were convinced it was a project worth supporting. We are pleased that so many people feel safer through using it, and are enjoying the countryside at the same time.”
Jennie Jenkins, Babergh Councillor for Leavenheath and Assington ward, added: ““This is a great example of councils at parish, district and county level working together for the benefit of those who live in, and visit, the village. We hope many more residents will be encouraged to use the path during the spring and summer months.”
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