Footbridge plan for Southtown

Dominic Bareham

A NEW footbridge for pedestrians and cyclists could be built across the River Yare as part of plans to regenerate Great Yarmouth.

The proposed bridge, spanning the river at the bottom of Nottingham Way, is part of regeneration company 1st East's plans for the town and was discussed at a meeting of the Yarmouth Area Liaison Committee on Monday.

Yarmouth borough councillor Graham Plant, the cabinet member for regeneration and tourism, said the idea behind the scheme was to enable people living in new homes on the Southtown side of the river to get to St George's Park.

He said residents in properties yet to be built along the quayside between Southtown Road and the river would be able to walk or cycle over the bridge and then down Yarmouth Way to get to the park or the seafront.

“It was an idea that was brought up at the beginning of the regeneration plans. The first objective is to get redevelopment going, then to get a walkway from one side of the river to the other. It is something that we are looking at to enhance the quayside by the river,” Mr Plant said.

But he stressed the plans were only at the idea stage and no concrete proposals were yet in place.

The Southtown quayside is being targeted as a prime site for redevelopment through the creation of a new boulevard with three storey houses as well as shops and restaurants.

Councillor Valerie Pettit had called at Monday's meeting for new rights of way to open up the south side of the river to residents, and suggested one walkway could run between the river and Herbert Barnes Park.

She said: “It would make it fair for people from that end of the town to enable them to visit the river.”

Mr Plant said other routes could run from South Quay to Bure Park and Tarworks Road to Bure Park. He added health and safety issues would have to be considered before any footbridge could be created across the river.