The second phase of a £420,000 project, funded by the Park Royal Partnership and British Waterways, to upgrade a two-mile section of the Grand Union Canal Paddington Arm towpath between Scrubs Lane and Abbey Road is underway.

The West London works, which include towpath resurfacing and widening, repairs to walls, planting of new native species hedgerows, installing new signs, removing graffiti and debris, plus vegetation management, are being undertaken by British Waterways' contractor J Breheny.

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This winter's work, which began last November and is costing £218,000, is the second phase of a two-year programme of towpath improvements. The works are being carried out over the winter months to minimise inconvenience to towpath users.

Two sections of towpaths are now closed for works: the stretch between Old Oak Lane and Action Lane has been closed since December and from 11 February the stretch between Steele Road and Abbey Road will be closed. Both sections will reopen on 7 March when works are due for completion.

Antonia Zotali, Project Engineer for British Waterways London, explained: "British Waterways' towpaths provide green traffic-free routes across the capital and are visited by over 33million walkers, cyclists, joggers, anglers and boaters each year. This project to improve the towpath in Park Royal is part of an ongoing programme of improvements to make London 's waterways safer, more attractive and accessible for the thousands of people who use them every day."

(CD/JM)