Residents are set to celebrate the reopening of a key bridge on the Padiham Greenway this weekend, marking the completion of a major £900,000 restoration and accessibility project.

A free community event will take place on Saturday near the entrance to Padiham Memorial Park, with activities including wildflower sowing, seedball making and a sponsored walk. The event has been organised by the Walk Wheel Cycle Trust alongside local volunteers.

The River Calder bridge reconnects the east and west sides of the popular traffic-free route, which links Padiham with surrounding villages and provides access into Burnley town centre. Widely used by walkers and cyclists, the greenway also serves as a route to schools and workplaces.

The bridge was closed in 2021 over safety concerns, while sections of the path between Memorial Park and Shuttleworth Business Park were also affected by tree root damage, reducing accessibility for wheelchair users and those with mobility aids.

Structural repairs to the arches on the River Calder Bridge.

placeholder image — Structural repairs to the arches on the River Calder Bridge.

Since then, the community has worked with partners including Burnley Council, Active Travel England and National Highways to secure funding and deliver improvements.

As part of the upgrade, the bridge has been stabilised and repaired, while the wider route has been made more accessible. A green strip of vegetation has also been added to help wildlife cross safely, alongside new bat boxes to support local species.

Nadine Fecht, senior engineer at Walk Wheel Cycle Trust, said: “We’re delighted to be re-opening the Padiham Greenway and River Calder bridge.

“Thankyou to the local community and all our partners, who have worked with us to make the route safe again.

“The new improvements now make it much more accessible and welcoming for people using a wheelchair or other mobility aid. We’ve also added features to protect our local wildlife too.”

Oliver Ryan added: "I'm so pleased to see the hard work that's gone into the Padiham Greenway bridge paying off. The team has been incredible and it's been great to see people coming together to work on something that's going to have such a positive impact on our local community.

“It's a safe, healthy way to get around Padiham, pop to the shop, and meet up with friends.

“It's been a labour of love, but the end result is worth it!"

Funding for the bridge repairs came from Active Travel England and the Shared Prosperity Fund via Burnley Council, while improvements to the rest of the route were supported by National Highways.

The reopening event will also provide information on the project and highlight volunteering opportunities with local groups, including Friends of Padiham Greenway and Friends of Padiham Memorial Park. Further wildlife-themed events are planned along the route in the coming months.