£1.5million investment in Embankment and Riverside area begins

The first stage of Bedford Borough Council's £1.5million investment to enhance the Embankment and Riverside along the Great Ouse is set to begin this week with improvement works to the Embankment pavement.

Bedford's Embankment, running alongside the River Great Ouse, is one of Bedford's most picturesque settings and a popular place for walkers, cyclists and other people enjoying the beautiful scenery.

Works are beginning to resurface the walking areas. The buff coloured surface has worn away over time and the Council is replacing it with 'buff quartzite' which will restore the look of this surface to its best.

The works are expected to last 8 weeks, to be complete ahead of the River Festival, and will include the stretch of the Embankment from Newnham Road to Bushmead Avenue.

Mayor Dave Hodgson said "I am delighted we are able to invest in the future of our beautiful Embankment, the 'jewel in Bedford's crown'. This work will see the walkways on the Embankment refreshed and renewed ahead of the return of the River Festival this July. Further investment on the Embankment will follow including the planting of more trees and plants, interpretation panels and a number of other improvements which will be announced soon to link the Embankment with the town centre."