Bridge opened in November 2010
Following the Council’s decision to name the
new footbridge over the A10, the Paul Cully Bridge in recognition
of the late Mr Paul Cully, an official opening took place on
Tuesday 9 November 2010. The opening was attended by the
Leader of Broxbourne Council, Councillor Paul Mason, the Mayor of
Broxbourne, Councillor Mark Mills-Bishop, representatives of
Sustrans, the Big Lottery and other partners including contractor,
Britcon, Hertfordshire County Council and St Mary’s School.
The ribbon was cut by Mr Cully’s widow, Carol Cully.
The opening ceremony was also attended by Zac
McNicholas, a nine year old school boy from Bonneygrove School who
last year won a competition organised by the Cheshunt Extended
Schools Consortium to design a bridge.
The footbridge project provides a safe route across the A10
for children travelling to and from St Mary's School. As part
of the Council’s Waltham Cross renaissance
programme, it will link communities east and west of the A10,
providing walking and cycling access to places like the Lee Valley
Regional Park, Cedars Park, Waltham Cross town centre and nearby
railway stations. The bridge is available for the public to
use following the opening and the route includes a
footpath/cycleway link between Bury Green Road and the new bridge
and a cycleway network to the east.
Other bridges in the Borough to be built/adapted
In October 2005, the Council granted planning permission for
News International's high technology print works at the Park
Plaza site in Waltham Cross. An agreement under Section 106 of
the Town and Country Planning Act was entered into between the
Council, Hertfordshire County Council and News Printers Assets Ltd
(the owners). This agreement included the provision of a
footbridge across the railway within five years, at no cost to the
Council, although this will not be met on time. The
owners have been formally invited to extend the period within the
bridge has to be provided by to October 2011, subject to
Hertfordshire County Council approval, as the proposed site for the
bridge in Park Lane is not capable of accommodating
a crossing for horses. As a consequence, it is
likely two bridges will need to be built; one for pedestrians at
Park Lane and a second for horses and cyclists. The second site
being explored for its suitability is adjacent to the
Holmesdale tunnel.
Network Rail and National Express are making
improvements to Waltham Cross railway station, as part of the
Government's National Station Improvement Plan. The £2.6 million
scheme includes a new station building, the installation
of lifts at either side of the existing footbridge
which will improve disabled access to the north and southbound
platforms, improved waiting facilities on platforms, improved
parking, cycle facilities, pedestrian links and a new taxi rank.
Work commenced in December 2010, with completion expected to
be around six months later.