The treeworks to clear the overgrown track of the old railway line behind Woodland Road started last month, and are continuing this month after a break over Christmas and the New Year.

Although at first the clearance work looks rather drastic, it will in fact bring long-term benefits for the natural habitat along the edges of the track.

For example, cut timber is being stacked and covered with wood chip to provide basking sites and hibernation refuges for slow worms.

A key element of the whole Connect2 Kenilworth project has always been the construction of a new pedestrian and cycling bridge over the busy A429 Coventry Road, so it is rather concerning that some local councillors seem to have set their minds against this.

Locally, as well as nationally, the Connect2 project won a massive popular vote last December, which I hope town councillors recognise, and local residents now expect the scheme they voted for to be delivered.

Let me reassure everyone however that the bridge will not look anything like the much exaggerated structure shown in the artist’s impression used on publicity material last year, and reproduced in the Weekly News alongside last month’s column.

The county council is commissioning three alternative designs for a simple but elegant bridge, recognising the sensitivity of its location with nearby housing and as an important gateway to the town.

Once these design drawings are available, there will be wide public consultation before any decisions are taken or construction work commenced.

Network Rail has approved an extension to the previous licence for land alongside the railway line by Kenilworth Common, which secures the preferred route for this critical section of the new walking and cycle path.

The whole project is being managed by the county council in partnership with the national charity Sustrans, and with the active support of Warwick District Council and the University of Warwick.

The next bi-monthly meeting of the Steering Group will be held on February 4, when county, district and town councillors, together with representatives of the university, local residents and local groups together with county and district officers will review progress and agree the next programme of work.

Any residents with particular concerns or questions can contact me directly on 512130 or by email at cllrwhitehouse@warwickshire.gov.uk. Alternatively, they can join our “Keep in the Loop” emailing list by contacting Teresa Llewellyn at the county council at teresallewellyn@warwickshire.gov.uk.

Further information on the Connect2 Kenilworth scheme can be found at:

www.warwickshire.gov.uk/countryside www.connect2kenilworth.org.uk