New Bridge Over River Stour Blessed In Village Ceremony
A new bridge over the River Stour has been officially opened and blessed in Kinver village near Stourbridge.
The bridge connects the village to the recently developed open space at Brockley Walk. Previously the only way to access the area was via a dangerous route for pedestrians, as there is no pavement, so the new bridge opens up the space, particularly for elderly people and those without transport.
The project was delivered by the Friends of Kinver Open Spaces. The overall cost of the project was £95,000, paid for by a contribution from the Friends and grants from the Ken Wrigley Trust, Dpd, and £50,000 from Enovert Community Trust (ECT), provided through the Landfill Communities Fund.
The bridge was opened and blessed by Reverend Rich Clarkson, Rector at St Peter’s Church and Revered Emma Hammond during an event held to celebrate the completion of the project.
David Giddings, Chairman of Friends of Kinver Open Spaces, said: “We are all so pleased to have completed this project and to have our new bridge in place. This has opened up what was previously a largely inaccessible area, which will greatly increase participation and encourage interest in the natural environment.
“We are extremely grateful for the grant from ECT, which not only made the bridge project possible, but has also encouraged our volunteers to keep up the momentum and look at new projects to deliver in the future.”
Access to the new bridge and the community open space beyond it will be available 24/7, with no restrictions or booking requirements.
Angela Haymonds, Trust Manager of Enovert Community Trust, said: “The new bridge looks fantastic and will provide many opportunities for people within the local community for increased well-being as well as physical activities. Access to open space is so important for all ages and the Trustees were very pleased to have been able to support the efforts of the Friends of Kinver Open Spaces with this ambitious and much needed project.”
