Melton Mowbray Town Estate

From the Melton Times.

The first phase of the Town Estate's Big Picture Appeal to rejuvenate Melton's parks is nearing fruition.

The refurbished playground in Play Close is proving very popular, the bandstand in New Park has been re-roofed and a new all-weather five-a-side football pitch at Leicester Road Sports Ground will soon be ready for kick-off.

And linking all the attractions is the new footbridge over the River Eye, named after feoffee and former senior townwarden John Southerington.

The bridge, made at a cost of £60,000, is a gift from removals firm W. Southerington and Sons to the Town Estate 'as a thank you for the support the business has been given by Melton over the last 116 years'.

It was presented to the Town Estate and officially opened by Mr Southerington's wife Pat, fulfilling a vision first set out at a town meeting 100 years ago. The gift was accepted by junior townwarden Richard Sage.

Senior townwarden Pat Cumbers said: "I believe the bridge will be a great asset for the town and everybody will soon wonder how we managed before."

The approach ramps to the bridge were funded by The Melton building society and other sponsors of the appeal and constructed by Trumans of Old Dalby.

The second phase of the appeal envisages a visitor centre with cafe and toilets at the Leicester Road Sports Ground.