Prittle Brook Foot and Cycle Path

Pleased to see that the Prittle Brook foot/cycle path construction is coming on well. The path is being upgraded by Southend Council from a narrow footway from which bicycles were banned to a 3m wide combined foot and cycle path with a resin bound stone surface. The path will eventually connect Priory Park [MAP] in the east to Belfairs Woods [MAP] in the west and will provide a safe access route for families with children and for cyclists alike. I am particularly pleased as I can get on it from the bottom of my road. The work appears to be being undertaken by contractor W & H Roads.

I am not 100% sure about the surfacing especially with regard to dog excrement which has always been a problem along the path and will be more-so now the unpaved areas have been reduced. It will be more difficult to see and to remove and the surface will increase wear and tear on street cleaning equipment. I hope that making this into a really nice walking route will encourage dog owners to be responsible and that Southend Council will have a maintenace programme to clean the route at regular intervals.

I would also have liked to see some low level bollard lighting so the route could be considered safer to use in the hours of darkness. I hope also that some road markings will be added at the highway crossings to alert drivers to its presence.

I have uploaded a few photos to my picasweb site here and included a few photos below.