Kissing gates project to make countryside more accessible (From Salisbury Journal)
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Kissing gates project to make countryside more accessible
7:30am Sunday 16th September 2012 in News By Morwenna Blake
A PROJECT to make miles of south Wiltshire countryside more accessible is being launched.
The Southern Wiltshire Area Board is funding a drive to replace more than 80 stiles with kissing gates in order to promote walking and make footpaths more accessible in the area.
To help the project happen the area board is asking local businesses to volunteer their services for one day, as well as seeking volunteers from the local community, to help install the gates.
In return businesses will get free advertising in two new ventures to promote walking in the area: the Southern Wiltshire Walks website and the soon to be published walkers’ guide.
Area board vice chairman Leo Randall, said: “This project is all about working together to improve our footpaths and promote walking.
“We would like to replace old stiles with new kissing gates so many more people can enjoy walking across our community area, including wheelchair users and young families with pushchairs.”
The area board is investing £8,000 in the project, with £5,000 also coming from Wiltshire Council ’s Paths Improvement Grant.
Funding and support is coming from the New Forest National Park Authority and parish councils in the area. And South Wiltshire Ramblers Association will assist with installing the gates.
It is hoped new kissing gates will be installed from this month and be completed by the new year.
More information about the project can be found at southernwiltshirewalks.weebly.com Anyone interested in getting involved in the project can contact community area manager Tom Bray on 01722 434252 or email tom.bray@wiltshire.gov.uk .
