A Leicestershire-based surfacing company has been awarded a £650k contract to help convert a former Derbyshire railway line running from Little Eaton to Rawson Green into a Greenway for the local community.
HMS Decorative Surfacing has been selected by construction firm Pugh-Lewis as part of its contract with Derbyshire County Council to transform the 5.6km former Midland Railway Ripley Branch Line into an accessible, eco-friendly path for walkers, cyclists and horse riders.
The new, durable path will provide a popular travel route between Derby City and Ripley. Once completed, it will create an environmentally friendly greenway, which has been a long ambition for Derbyshire County Council to promote greener community space and eco-friendly travel whilst increasing tourism to the area.
HMS, a resin surfacing specialist, is installing a long-lasting and flexible Decra®Flex path. This eco-friendly solution combines the flexibility of recycled rubber with the strength and durability of aggregates and resin. The path will be installed along the greenway within the natural wildlife corridors of Derbyshire.
Phase 1 is set to begin at the end of March and is expected to take 4-5 weeks to complete.
Laura Wilson, Director at HMS, commented on the contract win. She said: “Providing safe, attractive and environmentally friendly spaces for the public has always been one of our top priorities as a company, so when we were awarded this contract for the Little Eaton Greenway, we were delighted.
“The material we are using on the path is cutting-edge. It’s porous and most importantly, flexible, to absorb any impact from the public and reduce the risk of injuries from falls whilst jogging, walking, wheeling, cycling or horse riding.
“Weather dependent, we’re hoping to complete Phase 1 by early May and then begin Phase 2 later in the year. This is a huge turning point for HMS and will be one of our biggest jobs to date, helping to create brilliant future growth for our company.”
Tim Pugh-Lewis, Director and Owner of Pugh-Lewis, said: “This project will provide Derbyshire’s community with greener infrastructure, to reduce carbon emissions and boost biodiversity, whilst protecting the natural environment.
“HMS Decorative Surfacing will be using the very best in eco-friendly surfacing to create a durable, sustainable and safe way for the local community to travel and spend more time outdoors. We look forward to working with them and seeing the much-anticipated finished result.”
The redevelopment of the greenway on the former railway line is set to transform the area by connecting surrounding towns and villages with greener commuter routes and further strengthen Derbyshire’s green infrastructure by forming part of its Key Cycle Network.
