The bridge maintenance work is now complete from Newton Lane Bridge onwards, past Fairfield Road Bridge (slightly ahead of schedule). The tree clearance contract is now also complete. The next work that will take place on the greenway will be the erection of some sections of amphibian fencing. This fencing will be about 0.5m high and will enable catching and relocating any amphibians that are within the construction footprint. It also prevents any of them getting into the work area. This work to be undertaken in April (taking 4 weeks) if a licence is given sooner work may be able to start on the fencing work more promptly.

Access Information
Planning permission has been granted for the provision of a different access on the A41 Greenfield Lane. This access is instead of the ramp that would have joined onto the A56 near Greenfield Crescent.
Planning permission for the alternative access arrangements onto Station Lane will go to the Planning Board on the 18th March.

Mickle Trafford Railway Bridge
It is hoped construction will still begin on the greenway this summer with an aim to have the route open to the public later this year. Proposals for the new bridge over the railway lines have changed. Instead of the ‘bridge within the bridge’ option it is now intend to lay a concrete deck on the existing structure. This option is more straightforward in engineering terms (and cheaper) but will take a little longer as a number of overnight rail possessions will be required.

Those of you with a good memory will remember that over many years Ralph has pointed out that the railway bridge at Brook Lane was exactly the same as the one spanning the rails at Mickle Trafford and it (along with two other bridges of the same type removed from the Northgate) are still in use. He saw no need to replace the existing bridge at all.

April Volunteer Day
The idea is to try to fit in some volunteer days between construction working.
If we can fit in a litter clearing along the extension route, a small section at a time, would anyone be free Saturday April 18th? We will meet at 10am at Fairfield Road Bridge on the path for litter clearing work along the un-surfaced pathway. Our volunteer work time is not set in concrete. Friends may come and go as and when they wish and clear litter when they have spare time and on any day.
Just let us know your email address or telephone number, and we will keep you informed of the next time we intend meeting as a group of individuals working together.

Ecological Survey
If you take a very pleasant but somewhat hard walking, stroll on the present surface, up this pathway where you may notice squares (approximately 30cm2) of corrugated roofing material lying in the verges. These are part of the ecological survey that is being undertaken on the route and please leave them be. Some of them carry an ‘RSK’ sticker but they do resemble rubbish.

Along the Unmade Pathway
There are bluebells, snowdrops, daffodils and crocus flowers waiting to greet you on your journey. I hope they are left alone. Some of our planted bulbs have had their heads kicked off again this year. I pick them up, as some of you do too, and take them home rather than leave them. I have a nice posy of ‘saved’ flower heads. The bulbs will hopefully be stronger next year since they have not expended so much energy. Sadly the wild primroses and cowslips have long gone. Once the route opens up there are those who feel compelled to dig them up for themselves! Many trees have been felled. Many had developed Dutch elm disease.

Website Rewrite Proposals
Steve Howe has added the following note to the website 'A Virtual Stroll Along the Millennium Greenway':
"I'm sure you'll agree that the time is long overdue for this hopelessly out-of-date version of our virtual journey along the greenway- largely dealing as it does with the bitter, years-long battle to preserve our car-free path from the iniquities of the CDTS 'Guided Busway'- to be gracefully retired into the archives and a complete re-write to take place. This would add all of the new photographs and other material that this writer has been thigh-deep in for the last few years, tell of the very welcome extension of the route to Guilden Sutton that is now taking place, add better access information and detailed maps, provide a guide to hotels, shops, pubs, cafes etc close to the path- and generally provide a much, much more positive, regularly-updated read than it currently is!
That's a lot of work and sadly, I am now financially incapable of taking the job on- without your help. If you are in a position to donate towards the site's renaissance, brilliant. If you're in business along the route, consider advertising with us. We can design (for free!) a jolly banner advertisment for you with details of your business, your contact details, links to your website and email- and a map directing Greenway travellers to your establishment!
So, if you're in any sort of a position to help, or know of someone who can, contact me to discuss further- 01244 345099 / 0775 1521 600 Email

• Be sure to visit the latest excellent source of local cycling news, full of fascinating information: Chester Cycle City

Happy walking and cycling!

Audrey and Ralph Hodgkinson
(Sec) Anti- CDTS Campaign
Founder, Friends of Chester Millennium Greenway.
Office Tel. 01244 343055 (hours 8pm - 5pm)
Audhodgkinson@aol.com