Cllr. Mike Sims, RDRA Committee Member & Independent TRDC Councillor, and Paul Harding, local resident who recently gave an excellent speech to the council, are pictured visiting the Woodland Path which has been closed since March 2024.
Mike has been instrumental in getting the path noticed, re-assessed & we hope it opens soon!
Read the Watford Observer article:
https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/leisure/25948582.popular-walking-route-soon-reopen-two-years/
Message received 13th February – via email.
Thank you for the recent update newsletter and all your good work for Rickmansworth.
To my shock M&S have closed off the pathway from the council car park to Ebury Road while doing their renovation works to the shop.
As far as I understand this is a public right if way as the passage between the houses surely does NOT belong to M&S.
Since the (very badly communicated) renovation works are scheduled to take a further 6 weeks to two months this, much used, public footpath should be reopened for access asap
I do hope this issue can be addressed by those concerned and the current situation rectified.
RDRA response:
This is a public footpath so it is the responsibility of Herts County Council and they have confirmed that due to health and safety concerns the path will remain closed until M&S complete their works. I am awaiting a time line.
Message received 3rd May, 2025 – via email.
I wonder if the the association has either news or views on the closure of the riverside path at the Aquadrome? I have not seen any coverage of this on the e-new bulletins and this situation has been going on for the best part of 15 months.
Initially there was no information about why this decision had been taken. Subsequent enquiries to the responsible officer (Emma Sheridan) tell us it is H&S issues as the path has been rendered unsafe due the persistent floods. It is as you should be aware a wetland site and by its nature it floods because it part of the floodplain, so it was always the case although recent wet winters have not helped matters. Decisions as the what repairs and when it will be reopened are dependent on the outcome of independently commissioned 3rd party hydrology surveys (by the EA), and subsequent investigation work by 3RDC before a new safe pathway specification can be formulated. As matters stand the current impasse could persists for months and years.
On the face of it the decsion to close the path is reasonable and proportionate, but as many other residents will testify the current state of riverside path is no worse and arguably better that most of the other footpaths around the aquadrome site. Put simply if it is justified to close this path on H&S grounds the other paths should be closed too. They are not and there are no plans to do. No one doubts 3RDC’s competence to act to protect residents but the evidence on the ground does not match or justify what we are being told. Many individuals have explained this to 3RDC which remains steadfast in its stance. Questions have been raised in Open Council meetings and there is at least 1 expensively petition doing the rounds. What is anything is RDRA’s position on this please?
RDRA response:
Thank you for your email via our website. I fully agree with your comments about the riverside path in the Aquadrome.Unfortunately, there are no updates from TRDC regarding the completion of the hydrological survey or when the path will reopen.
The longer it stays closed, the higher the reopening costs will be. It appears that the council is not keeping residents like us informed.
I’m unsure how residents can get the council to communicate and engage with us. I welcome any suggestions you may have.
I am pleased to inform you that we will be commencing the replacement of the Rickmansworth Aquadrome Bridge off Riverside Drive. Planned works will begin from Monday 20 January until Easter. During this time, the bridge and Ebury Play Area will be closed to the public to allow the work to be completed safely.
Pedestrians can still access Rickmansworth Aquadrome and town centre during the works. The established diversion route will be in place with on-site signage.
We’ve been working with our contractor, Beaver Bridges, and local agencies, including the Environment Agency and Hertfordshire Highways, to ensure they are aware of the works and happy with how they will be carried out and that we comply with all necessary legislation, we are only now able to confirm the dates.
Our Communications team have a planned programme including social media posts and a recent press release on the council website to notify the public with further details.
This is an exciting part of the overall project, and we look forward to bringing you a superb new bridge and nature focused play area soon.
For more details on the work please visit:
https://www.threerivers.gov.uk/news/rickmansworth-aquadrome-bridge-closure-replaced