A FOOTPATH at a popular beauty spot in Romsey has reopened this week as part of a £6 million flood alleviation scheme.
Work on the Romsey Extra Footpath, running along the Causeway from Bypass Road to Sadlers Mill, started on May 26 and meant the area was closed on June 8.
As reported, the Environment Agency (EA), who drew up the proposals with Hampshire County Council, said the Causeway would close to allow their contractor to "install timber-clad barriers".
They claimed the work would "prevent vehicles up to 26 tonnes from falling off the bridges over the spillways", while they are working on the Romsey Flood Alleviation Scheme.
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Almost 200 properties in Romsey will be better protected from flooding following construction of new defences in the town as part of the flood scheme.
Now, community leaders have revealed their thoughts on the Causeway opening yesterday after it was shut for eight weeks.
Cllr John Parker, who represents Romsey Tadburn on Test Valley Borough Council, said: "It will be lovely to see the Causeway finished and opened again, so vehicles and pedestrians can access it.
"I think they have done a good job in trying to camouflage an engineering structure in a rural environment and [the bridge] is a lot better than I feared it might look.
"I look forward to checking it out as soon as I can."
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Cllr Mark Cooper, who represents Romsey Tadburn on the borough council, said: "I went down to have a look at [the Causeway] last week and saw it was virtually finished.
"I am very pleased to see it has opened, as it is a very popular place to walk; I think the new bridge fits in very well with the area, because it looks more rural."
He added: "I am not surprised the work [on the Causeway] has taken a long time [to finish], because I know it has been a very complex process getting machinery into the area.
"The contractors who have been doing the work were affected by coronavirus issues and everything is difficult to do at the moment."
The EA has been contacted for comment.
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