Surfacing company to transform Derbyshire railway line into greenway
A Leicestershire-based surfacing company has secured a £650,000 contract to transform a former railway line in Derbyshire into a greenway for the local community.
HMS Decorative Surfacing has been chosen by construction firm Pugh-Lewis as part of its project with Derbyshire County Council.
The project will convert the 5.6km stretch of the Midland Railway Ripley Branch Line from Little Eaton to Rawson Green into a path for walkers, cyclists, and horse riders.
HMS, specialists in resin surfacing, will install a durable and flexible Decra®Flex path, an eco-friendly material combining recycled rubber, aggregates, and resin.
Work on Phase 1 will begin at the end of March and is expected to take 4-5 weeks to complete.
Laura Wilson, director at HMS said: “Providing safe, attractive and environmentally friendly spaces for the public has always been one of our top priorities as a company, so when we were awarded this contract for the Little Eaton Greenway, we were delighted.
“The material we are using on the path is cutting-edge. It’s porous and most importantly, flexible, to absorb any impact from the public and reduce the risk of injuries from falls whilst jogging, walking, wheeling, cycling or horse riding.
“Weather dependent, we’re hoping to complete Phase 1 by early May and then begin Phase 2 later in the year. This is a huge turning point for HMS and will be one of our biggest jobs to date, helping to create brilliant future growth for our company.”
Tim Pugh-Lewis, director and owner of Pugh-Lewis said: “This project will provide Derbyshire’s community with greener infrastructure, to reduce carbon emissions and boost biodiversity, whilst protecting the natural environment.
“HMS Decorative Surfacing will be using the very best in eco-friendly surfacing to create a durable, sustainable and safe way for the local community to travel and spend more time outdoors. We look forward to working with them and seeing the much-anticipated finished result.”
