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Footbridge link is officially opened

From the Leicester Mercury.

BIG PICTURE: Town warden Richard Sage, Pat and John Southerington celebrate the opening of the bridgeA Footbridge over the River Eye in Melton has been officially opened.

The bridge links New Park with the Leicester Road sports ground in the town.

It is one of the major elements of Melton Town Estate's Big Picture Appeal vision for the town's parks and offers a shorter and more pleasant walk to and from the town centre, rather than a longer walk by a busy road.

The appeal gained funding from a wide range of organisations.

Leicestershire County Council's SHIRE Environmental Improvement and Asfordby Mine Grants have offered £10,000 and £50,000 respectively towards the first, £200,000, phase of the project.

Ernie White, county council cabinet lead member for community services, said: "This new bridge is the linchpin for the whole project.

"Its installation is a major step in completing the vision for the town's parks. I am very pleased that we have been able to contribute to the Big Picture Appeal." The bridge has been named after Town Estate feoffee and Big Picture project director, John Southerington, whose family business W Southerington and Sons Ltd paid for the bridge. Mr Southerington said: "It has proved popular already, particularly at the Melton Show when thousands of people used it."