Footpath saga nears positive conclusion

Walkers who campaigned for the reopening of a popular footpath have expressed their delight at repairs completed by a council.

The footpath connecting Newton Road and Cornard Road alongside Sainsbury’s supermarket in Sudbury was closed in May due to safety fears over the stability of the ground.

Surveys were carried out by Suffolk County Council, which then commissioned improvement work – including a portion of raised walkway – to be carried out on the site, which has now been completed.

Despite this, a council spokesman said the footpath was not quite ready to be reopened.

“We are making progress with footpath 11,” he said. “The survey work has been undertaken and we are carrying out work on the path, but we need a final report from our engineering partners before we can confirm when the path can be reopened to the public.”

Resident Mary Roberts, who led a campaign for the path to be reopened and has seen the work, said it looked wonderful.

“Hopefully, there shouldn’t be any reason not to open it,” she said.

Mrs Roberts said it was good to finally have a positive outcome, with repairs looking difficult at one point.

“We have waited so long. I never thought the work would be done to be honest,” she added.

A further footpath behind Wells Hall Primary School in Great Cornard has now reopened.