A bridge is not the first thing that springs to mind when you think of things likely to be seen hovering above a town centre park. But that is exactly what visitors to Becket’s Park, Northampton, will see on Thursday, 20 January when the Environment Agency’s contractor moves the 24-metre-long structure into place across the River Nene.

The temporary bridge has been built to allow construction materials and machinery to cross the river onto the park’s island. It forms the first phase in the construction of the new Northampton Marina facilities building. A large tower crane will be used to manoeuvre the bridge into position so that work can begin on the building. The brick and timber clad building will house the marina manager’s office as well as washrooms and a laundry for boaters, along with waste disposal facilities. Planning permission was granted in August last year for the environmentally-friendly building and it is expected to be opened in July. The marina itself will be open to boats at Easter, although facilities will be limited to water and electricity supplies until the new building is completed.

Paul Arnold, of the Environment Agency, is project manager for the marina development. He said: “The facilities building will form one of the last pieces of a jigsaw which has seen a former boating lake transformed into a modern marina. Northampton Marina will help to put the town on the boating map and the sight of this long structure being swung into position by a very large crane should be an impressive sight.”

The facilities building is being built by Environment Agency contractors PGR Construction. The Environment Agency is constructing the marina on behalf of the Becket’s Park Partnership. The Partnership is made up of the Environment Agency, Northampton Borough Council, the River Nene Regional Park, Northamptonshire County Council, Northamptonshire Enterprise Limited and West Northamptonshire Development Corporation (WNDC). WNDC is the largest funding partner contributing £1.8m, with investment also secured from the County Council and Environment Agency.

Roger Mendonca, WNDC’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “The marina will be at the heart of a new beginning for Northampton’s waterfront and we are pleased the final phase of work has started. Development of the waterside area is one of several exciting town centre projects that WNDC is delivering in support of Northampton Borough Council’s vision for the town.”

Councillor Trini Crake, Northampton Borough Council’s cabinet member for environment, said: “In the last 12 months, we have seen the riverside at Becket’s park transformed as the new marina has taken shape. This is a really exciting project and will be a real asset to the town. We are now entering the final stages of work and I cannot wait to see the marina filled with boats when it opens later this year.”

Northampton marina will offer 80 moorings, six of which will be for residential use. The remaining berths will be available for short term visitors and pleasure craft requiring long term leases. Moorings will also be available for operators of commercial leisure boats, such as hire boats and water taxis. There has been a lot of interest in the moorings and application forms are now available for booking a mooring at Beckett’s Park. Anyone interested in taking one of the berths should contact the EA waterways team on 01733 464071 or visit its website www.visitnene.co.uk.

As part of long term plans to develop Northampton into The Market City, later phases of the Becket’s Park project could deliver new landscaping, lighting, cafés and restaurants, while providing a busy, exciting link between the town centre and the waterside.

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