Campaigners in Hitchin are celebrating after a notorious footpath was finally relaid after years of problems, with the new surface unveiled at the weekend.
There had long been confusion over whether the path between Milestone Road and Bedford Road was owned by Herts County Council, North Herts Homes or someone else – and in September, Liz Whitelock, Jackie McDonald and Paul Ross launched a fresh drive to get it sorted out.
County council contractors Ringway carried out work to relay the surface last week, and the new flexible asphalt surface was unveiled yesterday.
Liz and Jackie said in a joint statement: “On behalf of everyone in the local commuity who has campaigned to bring about a resolution to the alleyway linking Milestone Road to Bedford Road in Hitchin, we would like to thank the company Ringway, Herts County Council and the local media – in particular JP Asher of the Comet, and BBC Three Counties Radio – for the work and repairs that have been carried out, of which we are really impressed.
“Ringway has clearly worked incredibly hard on tarmacking the entire alleyway from top to bottom during the course of the recent half-term school holidays. The contractors have done a brilliant job.
“We are delighted and relieved that a fully tarmacked alleyway has now been put in place, together with sufficient lighting, which now means the alleyway is safe for both residents and pedestrians.”
The alleyway – site of numerous accidents – became an issue during last November’s district council by-election for Oughton ward, in which Jackie ran as an independent candidate. Labour’s Martin Stears-Handscomb won the seat.
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