Frequently asked questions about Connect2.

Summary of scheme:
Connect2 is one of six projects which will compete for £50 million from the Big Lottery Fund through an ITV show in December. All the other projects propose to spend the money in one single location, whereas Connect2 would spend the money on 79 different schemes the length and breadth of the country.

One of these is the Watermead Country Park scheme which would get around £700,000 share of the £50 million. Further funding by local organisations including Leicestershire County Council, bring the total project cost to over £1 million.

The scheme is led by Sustrans (the national cycling charity – responsible for the National Cycle Network) and brings together the City and County Councils, Charnwood Borough Council, local Parish Councils and local groups such as the Ramblers Association and Mosaic, who shape services for disabled people.

We need to continue to demonstrate public support for the project which can be done by logging on to www.sustransconnect2.org.uk or by phoning 0845 058 13 73.

Q: What sort of things would be happening as part of the scheme?
There are several routes into the park, but at the moment many of these are difficult to use. Some of the paths and bridges are not accessible to all sectors of the community, for example the bridges at Thurmaston and Birstall locks. The bridge at Thurmaston is incredibly steep, impossible for someone using a wheelchair or with young children to negotiate. Even someone who normally has no difficulty walking would find it particularly difficult in icy weather. It is planned to reduce the slopes up to it to make it easier to cross. A small number of paths within the park will be hard surfaced to make getting around easier for all park users.

Q: Are you going to tarmac loads of paths?
A: We are proposing to tarmac more of the paths to make them more serviceable. However the majority of the paths that are being hard surfaced are existing gravel paths, which are not only difficult for people with mobility difficulties to negotiate but quite costly to maintain, and not particularly environmentally friendly as they need frequent re gravelling. There are a few 'new' paths being created, but these are on existing grass paths which get churned up and eroded from the amount of use they get. The tarmac paths we already have, have attracted very few complaints and have blended in to the landscape very quickly.

Q: Won't the new paths encourage motorcyclists/ scooter riders to turn the park into a racetrack?
A: We don't anticipate that additional routes within the Park will change the current situation. As part of the Connect2 project, if we get the money, we will be looking at various options to address the issue.  We are also always looking at how this has been done in other areas to ensure that we are providing an appropriate balance. There are several types of anti-motor cycle barriers available, though experience elsewhere suggests that higher use by legitimate users deters most of the motorcyclists.

Q: Are you going to put street lighting in the park?
A: We have not yet put together any proposals for street lighting to go with the project. However, if street lighting does become a part of the plan, it will be kept to a minimum in the park to avoid disturbing its wildlife. For reasons of personal security, lighting will be required on a single route across the park (between Thurmaston and Birstall). It would not be near to any housing so will not affect residents. In summer, the street lighting will not be on at all, but during the winter months (October to March) the lights will come on in the morning until it is light and at dusk until about 8pm (i.e. commuter period). Winter lighting of this sort is not expected to have any damaging effect on bird life.