New Bridges Installed at Ashwood Park Buxton
High Peak Borough Council and Buxton Town Team have worked collaboratively together to secure funding of £110,000 from Tarmac which, together with £200,000 from the Council, has funded the replacement of the two bridges at the town end of the park and the re-opening a third bridge which has been closed for several years – improving access for pedestrians and cyclists to the park.
The arrival of the replacement bridges, along with a third installed during the summer, is a landmark moment in a 10-year campaign by the community group.
“It is very satisfying to finally see the bridges go in,” says Ashwood Park project leader Richard Lower. “It’s been a long process in getting everybody on board, finding the funding and obtaining the necessary licences and permits.”
“At Tarmac, we are proud to support community projects that make a real difference to local people,” says a spokesperson. “The Ashwood Park bridge improvements will restore important links through the park, improve accessibility and help ensure this much-loved community asset can be enjoyed by future generations.”
The bridge closest to the town centre is now much wider so that it can be used by cyclists – the route through the park is part of the Town Team’s safer walk and ride network.
On 21 October 2026, High Peak Borough Council reported the bridge project complete. On 19 October, the Buxton Advertiser reported that work on the third bridge’s approaches, reopening a route closed for at least 20 years, was continuing.
Councillor Rob Baker, Assistant Executive Member, said: “The bridges are looking great, and they’re another welcome improvement to Ashwood Park, building on our investment in the new Active Zone which opened earlier this year and is already proving popular.”
Buxton Town Team is working on other improvements to the park, in partnership with the council: “There will be more seating and planting in the area where the old bandstand was,” says Richard.
“We are also looking at putting in a walking and exercise route. For people who are in recovery, it is one of the few flat areas in Buxton.”
Volunteers also recently cleared the footpath linking Granby Road in Fairfield with Morrisons: “Overgrown bushes and brambles were making it difficult to negotiate the path and meant the handrails could not be used.
“We cut the overhanging bushes, pulled out nettles, cut back the undergrowth, cleared litter and brushed the walkway. We got a lot of ‘thank yous’ from people using the path.”
High Peak Borough Council’s commitment to investing in parks and green spaces is set out in the Parks Strategy which is supported by management plans for each site including Ashwood Park.
This latest project in Ashwood Park is one of several in the management plan aimed at improving access to and through the park and further developments, including new seating, planting, and active trails are planned.
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