Feedback to a public consultation has helped to shape new plans to improve Ely’s Riverside.

The Ely Riverside Improvement Plan has been developed by working with partners, local groups and  consultation with members of the public which ran throughout the summer.

Over the next few months, the following improvements will be progressed:

• New solar lighting along the Riverside path to make it easier for pedestrians to walk and cyclists to cycle safely along the area in the evenings and night.
• Removal of the ‘no cycling’ signs to allow cyclists to cycle along the riverside
• New signage to highlight where and what the public should feed ducks and other wildfowl on the river
• Installation of a duck food dispenser – once a suitable site has been investigated to prevent vandalism

There will also be only minimal improvements to the slipway to the river as the feedback from the public suggested they didn’t want funds to be used to pay for excessive work.

The various parts of the improvements will be paid for by the District Council, City of Ely council and money received from developers contributions.

Councillor Richard Hobbs, Chairman of the Community and Environment Committee at East Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “In Ely, we are very lucky to have a wonderful riverside to enjoy. Our priority throughout the last few months has been to look at ways to enhance the experience you get as you visit the area. This doesn’t mean spending lots of money on big changes but getting the little things right.

“We were helped a lot in this process by the feedback from the public, who highlighted the areas they wanted improved. So for example, we are removing the rules and signage which stopped cyclists riding along the riverside and will be installing solar lighting in the path to make it easier to walk and cycle by the river, but we won’t be spending money on improving the slipway because the public didn’t believe it was a priority. We will be introducing the improvements over the next few months and we hope they will make the Riverside an even better place to visit.”

For more information please call 01353 665555 or visit: www.eastcambs.gov.uk.