The new Park Road to Warren Road "cycle path"

I walked by the north side of the Heronry Pond yesterday, where a new surface to the joint cycle/pedestrian track was laid in recent months. But I didn't walk much on the new surface - I did what most other people were doing, that is walking on the grass either side. And most other people included not only walkers, but cyclists as well, because I haven't spoken to anybody that likes the rough surface.

The old one was actually not a problem at all - certainly not compared to this. I've written before (here) about the damage that was done - presumably in preparation for the surfacing work - to the grassland that I was now walking on,  and now I and others are being encouraged to add to the damage thus inhibiting any possibility of recovery of what was one of the Park's nicer habitat. It's interesting that before the new surface, people used the old track and didn't need to walk on the grass!

I am afraid that the debacle with this path has just confirmed my long-term conviction that the Conservators are not doing their job properly. In this case a lot of time and money has been spent which has resulted not only in the destruction of a good wildlife habitat, but has restricted access rather than improved it and in addition has created a visually less attractive scene than was before. If I ask myself what positive aspects the track has, I can't find any!

What does that say?

Paul Ferris, 31st May 2011