Higham Ferrers Footpath Group

Celebration Walk:
Celebration of Success of "Bridges for the Bypass" Campaign

Some 40 group members and residents of Higham Ferrers, Stanwick and Raunds gathered at 7.00 pm in Stanwick Road, by the new A6 Bypass, to hear a speech by our inimitable chairman, Richard Gell. We then had an opening ceremony - residents of Higham and Stanwick meeting in middle of the footbridge over the A6 bypass, for which we had fought long and hard, to shake hands and cut a ribbon. The bridge itself joined in the fun, with 40 people on board, by developing a wobble which rivalled that of the Millennium Bridge in London.

The ceremony was followed by a walk through the fields down to the Bidewell Brook, returning to the footbridge by a circular route. The evening was fine and warm, giving us a pleasant walk which all enjoyed.

Photographs of the Celebration Walk
by Lorna:

	A view of the footbridge over the A6 Bypass from Stanwick Road
	The opening ceremony with Richard addressing the crowd of walkers
	The Speech
	The approach path to the footbridge from Stanwick Road. The path is rough hardcore at present. We have asked the County Council to have it tarmaced so that it is more suitable for local residents with pushchairs.
	The bridge ramp rises quite gently and is readily climbed by older walkers
	Residents of Higham Ferrers meet walkers from Stanwick and Raunds at the centre of the bridge Tim Page of Stanwick (left) was an 18 year school student at the time of the 1992 Public Inquiry. He presented a petition signed by over 400 local residents calling for bridges over the bypass. Here he shakes hands with Richard Gell of Higham Ferrers.
	Walkers crossing the footbridge. Gloria (right) was secretary of the Higham Ferrers Footpath Group and in 1991 lobbied Members of Parliament and all local councils drawing thir attention to the lack of bridges over the proposed bypass.
	The path now runs alongside the hedge in the first field, having been diverted from its original crossfield route by the bypass works.
	The path joins the original route in the second field.
	The walk leader (left) and George from Raunds
	Evening sunshine in the field beside Bidwell Brook
	Walkers return to the footbridge as evening draws on
	Sunset over the footbridge
	Richard with his original 1991 placard.

Background to the "Bridges for the Bypass" Campaign

• 1930's    A6 Irthlingborough bypass and Nene Viaduct built. Older residents remember the route of a bypass being pegged out around Higham Ferrers. Work stopped by WW2.
• 1951    Line of bypass around Higham Ferrers and Rushden officially established and protected.
• 1986    Public exhibitions on route of bypass.
• 1991    Draft Orders for the bypass published by Highways Agency (HA). No footbridges are provided for the 6 paths severed by the bypass. We object on grounds of loss of access to countryside and ask for footbridges.
• 1991    "Bridges for the Bypass" campaign. Gloria Green, then our secretary, lobbies Members of Parliament, County, District and Town Councils, and local organisations. Richard works to gain support of local people. William interogates the HA as to the basis of their decisions on safety of pedestrians crossing the bypass and prepares a proof of evidence for the Public Inquiry. We organise protest walks across the route of the bypass.
  

  A protest walk in 1991. Members of HFFG and concerned local residents in Stanwick Road, Higham Ferrers, at the proposed crossing place of the A6 Bypass

• 1992    Public Inquiry. We express concern about safe access to the countryside and ask for footbridges. We are supported by all local councils, local organisations and, crucially, by local residents who greatly impress the Inspector.
• 1993    Result of Public Inquiry. The Inspector comments that safe access to the countryside was one of the main issues at the inquiry. He concludes that two footbridges should be provided, at Stanwick Road, Higham Ferrers and Hayden Road, Rushden.
• 1995    2nd Public Inquiry, concerned with siting of the footbridges. We write in support of footbridges.
• 1996    Public exhibition of the HA's proposals for the bypass and footbridges. We support the proposals.
• 2000    Draft Supplementary Orders published, giving details of footbridges. We welcome provision of footbridges and point out that further public consultation/inquiry is unnecessary.
• 2002, February    Construction of bypass starts.
• 2002, May    Footbridge Orders confirmed, but time is short. Will the footbridges be built before the bypass is completed?
• 2002, October    The bypass is well advanced with tarmac on some sections, but there is no sign of footbridges. Local councils do not know what is happening, and various Jeremiahs are prophesying that the footbridges won't be built. We write to the HA, and they assure us that footbridges will be built, and, moreover, that the bypass will not open before they are ready.
• 2003, August 14th:    The new A6 bypass is completed together with the two footbridges.