Wellington footbridge to be improved by new community fund
A poorly lit and overgrown footbridge in Wellington is set to be massively improved as part of Telford & Wrekin Council’s new community fund, Your Money Your Projects.
The Orleton Lane Foot Bridge, which crosses a railway line and links the Hollies Road area with the rest of Wellington, will have new lights installed and overhanging vegetation cut back as a result of the £1,000 investment.
The work is being carried out after a number of residents voiced their concerns about the safety of people crossing the bridge in the dark as a result of the poor lighting.
Haygate ward member Councillor Rob Sloan was made aware of the problems and applied to Your Money, Your Projects, which has £1,000 available for each of the council’s 54 elected members to spend.
Councillor Sloan said: “The immediate plan of action is to cut back the overhanging vegetation on the bridge and around the street lights.
“We will then replace the two lanterns on the existing columns either end of the bridge to provide better illumination of the bridge.
“I am delighted that we will be able to fund these improvements from my local allocation for Your Money, Your Projects.”
Councillor Shaun Davies, cabinet member for Environment, Co-operative Council and Partnerships, said: “This is a prime example of a Co-operative Council in action and I am pleased that Your Money, Your Projects has been able to help.
“The aim is to get the work done on the Orleton Lane bridge before the end of the year and it should make the crossing a lot safer for people.”
Your Money, Your Projects echoes the ethos of a Co-operative Council and has involved significant input from town and parish councils as well as residents choosing which schemes will be funded.
