Work has completed on upgrades to the Aylesbury Arm canal towpath in Buckinghamshire.

£800k's worth of work was carried out on the site after funding was secured. A £621,846 grant was given by Homes England from the Housing Infrastructure Fund. An additional £178,154 of funding came from Section 106 developer contributions.

The work was the result of a partnership between Buckinghamshire Council and the local Canal and River Trust.

Upgrade works included the widening of the path to seven feet, resurfacing the towpath, improving accessibility onto the path and installing new signs on the route. It also included the installation of a smart VivaCity Counter along the canal towpath to monitor usage and journeys.

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The new route forms part of the council’s aspirations for a 'Aylesbury-Tring-Wendover Canal Triangle' project and the wider Aylesbury Garden Town initiative.

Commenting on the works, Steven Broadbent, Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport, said: "The completion of the Aylesbury Arm canal towpath improvements is a significant milestone for the Active Travel Plan for Aylesbury. The new towpath will not only connect the town centre to the new developments of Kingsbrook and Woodlands, but also improve the health and wellbeing of our residents and visitors by promoting active travel.

"In recognition of this important infrastructure upgrade, Aylesbury MP Rob Butler, who cut the ribbon, and Buckinghamshire Council Leader Martin Tett officially launched the towpath improvements. They spoke about how the improvements have helped to make the towpath a safer, more accessible and enjoyable route.

"Lastly, we are grateful to the Canal and River Trust for their partnership and to the Housing Infrastructure Fund and local development sites for their funding, which has helped make these towpath improvements possible."