RESIDENTS have voiced their anger at Braintree District Council after construction began on a new cycle path that ripped through the middle of a picturesque nature reserve.
Blackwater and Bocking Nature Reserve contains wildflower meadows, grassland, scrub areas, wetland habitats, a wooden boardwalk and play sculpture, plus old trees and a range of different plant species.
But at the end of August work began on the 1.2 kilometre £227,000 pathway, jointly funded by Braintree District and Essex County Councils.
The cycle path, along the Fairview estate in Braintree, connects Vernon Way to River Mead, and according to the council, improves links for cyclists and pedestrians to the Bocking and Blackwater reserve, Braintree College, schools and the Marks Farm Tesco store.
But residents of adjacent Vernon Way are furious at, as they see it, the council's lack of consultation with local people.
A petition has gathered pace with hundreds of signatures by those upset at the sight of tarmac trailing through their beloved grassland.
They believe the route planners who constructed the path should reconsider its layout as the area is prone to flooding.
Jim Konig, chairman of Convent Lane and Broad Road Action Group, has spearheaded this campaign.
He told the Chronicle: "This plan goes against what the council say about conservation and protecting open spaces.
"The route the cycle path is being built on cuts right through the nature reserve. What we are saying is there are alternatives to this that wouldn't have done so much damage. The council are hoping lots of people will be motivated to stop using their cars and start using bikes and the council say they've had great success – but there's a lot of problems with this cycle way. We are worried it's going to be used by kids on BMX bikes and we're worried that because the cycle path is built so high it will become dangerous, especially for people on mobility scooters.
"I think if the council had consulted with local people this could have been avoided and they've chosen the most expensive way of doing this."
A website entitled "Carnage at Blackwater" has also been set up showing the before and after images of the reserve, as well as the height of the cycle path from ground level.
In a post on the authorities' Facebook page in reply to a complaint about the cycle path, Cllr Jo Beavis, cabinet member for people and participation, said: "Braintree District Council would like to apologise for commencing work on the construction of a new cycle path between Vernon and Rivermead without notifying all residents in advance. The council has, however, consulted with the Friends of Bocking and Blackwater on a regular basis to share the design route.
