The resurfacing of Harbour Highway largely rounds off the regeneration of Lydney Harbour, which has seen the transformation of the historic harbourfront; together with the set up of a customer hub, café and public artworks show.
Cllr Bernie O’Neill, cupboard member for financial system, stated: “The resurfacing of Harbour Highway was one of many remaining steps in finishing the regeneration of Lydney Harbour. One of many predominant goals of the undertaking was to develop the harbour right into a recreation and tourism vacation spot. Enhancing entry was important in reaching this.
“Resurfacing the highway brings the three-year undertaking nearer to completion, making it simpler for everybody to return and expertise the sensible new options on the web site. I want to thank everybody within the Forest of Dean District Council concerned in delivering what has been a significant regeneration undertaking for us.
In 2019, a £2.1 million grant was secured from the Coastal Group Fund to regenerate Lydney Harbour. The goals of the undertaking had been to develop the world right into a recreation and vacationer vacation spot by bettering the harbour and entry to it.
Over the previous three years intensive work has taken place to attain these goals, culminating within the current resurfacing of Harbour Highway.
The primary ingredient of the undertaking was the development of a café and the refurbishment of the outdated mortuary buildings into bogs and a customer data hub.
Native Lydney-based enterprise, Hips Social, have been working the café as ‘Hips Harbourside Café’ since December final yr, offering guests with refreshments whereas they go to the Harbour. Along with the café, Hips ensures that the bogs and customer centre are open through the café’s opening hours (9am-4pm), permitting guests to be taught extra concerning the historic space throughout their go to.
To additional spotlight the economic heritage of the harbour, artists ‘Dehhman+Gould’ have designed three distinct items of paintings which were put in within the space. Entitled ‘Forest to the Sea’, guests are capable of observe a public paintings path which traces an analogous path to the coal that made its method from the Forest of Dean, to the harbour and out into the world.
The path begins on the roundabout on the A48 and runs alongside the outdated railway line, ending on the harbour. The primary paintings alongside the path is the ‘Tower’. Sitting within the centre of the roundabout, this massive wood construction displays the timber cross-braced helps used extensively through the industrial period.
As guests proceed in the direction of the tip of the harbour, the place it meets the Severn Estuary, they’ll discover two different artworks entitled ‘Lookout’ and ‘Coal Arch’. Designed on the again of two historic buildings seen in archival photographs, these constructions present a window into the previous of the harbour. ‘Lookout’ mirroring an octagonal constructing on the finish of the harbour; whereas ‘Coal Arch’ displays a historic black hut which sat subsequent to coal tip 9.
Lastly, essentially the most not too long ago accomplished stage of the undertaking was the resurfacing of Harbour Highway – the entry highway to the world. Resurfaced by a partnership between Forest of Dean District Council and Gloucestershire County Council Highways, this stage has made the harbour extra accessible.
Along with this, 150 timber had been planted alongside the entry hall to enhance biodiversity within the space, in line with the council’s dedication to the atmosphere. There will even be a brand new lit-path constructed by the tip of the yr, finishing the unique pedestrian towpath. By bettering entry to the world, everybody can get pleasure from Vacation spot Lydney Harbour and all of the issues it has to supply.
