Pathway re-opens in Pool

A public walkway linking two of the main roads in Pool has been re-opened by Heartlands.

Access through the Heartlands site between Dudnance Lane and Station road was temporarily closed while site preparation work took place near the sites parameters. Sections of the former path have been replaced by Midas Construction, and a new gravelled walkway now runs parallel to the site, linking up the existing pathways and providing an access route for the public.

Steve Luck, Operations Manager, Midas Construction, said: “In order to ensure the health and safety of the public we temporarily closed off access through the site whilst essential site preparation work took place. We have now reopened the pathway, and levelled the path with gravel to provide easy access to the public.”

Kirsty Davies, Heartlands Community Project Manager, said: “It’s great the pathway is now open again for full public use. The walkway is already attracting dog walkers and cyclists out and about in Pool and we wanted to let everyone else know that path access between two of Pool’s main routes is open again. The new section of the pathway runs directly alongside the Heartlands site and provides the perfect view of the site for the public to watch the area develop.”

Local community invited to become friends of Heartlands

Members of the Pool community are being invited to become a ‘Friend of Heartlands’ to play a role in the ongoing development and success of the multi million pound development.

People can now register an interest to become a volunteer for the Project, which became a reality last year after receiving a £22.3 million grant from the Big Lottery Fund’s Living Landmarks programme – the only project in England to be awarded Living Landmarks funding.

There will be a number of jobs on site, which the Friends of Heartlands will be able to get involved with, varying from gardening, wildlife, stewarding events and giving guided tours around the site.

As the Project progresses more roles will be developed and long term the Friends of Heartlands will play a vital role in working with the community to ensure the ongoing success of the site, its events and facilities.

Anyone interested in joining the group is being invited to a meeting on Wednesday May 6, from 6pm at Heartlands to learn more about the project and to have the opportunity to meet members of the team. The meeting will take place in Compressor House on the site and will provide people with the perfect opportunity to find out what the volunteer roles involve and how they can become a ‘Friend of Heartlands’.

Kirsty Davies, Heartlands Community Project Manager, said: “This is a great opportunity for anyone in the local community interested in taking more of an active role in the Project to get involved. We’ll be looking at matching people’s skills across all areas of the Project. We’re extremely lucky as Heartlands is so diverse there should be no shortage of roles and something for everyone.

“We’re calling on everyone in the community from ex-miners, who may have a historical link to the site, through to keen gardeners who may be prepared to give up their time to help maintain the Project.