A10 Bridge Opening

Official Opening of the Paul Cully Bridge

A new walk and cycle route from St Mary’s School to Cedars Park was officially opened on Thursday 19 May 2011. Forty Plus members, including Sustrans activist William Chastell, were there to witness this superb achievement.

The route, which includes the Paul Cully Bridge over the A10, connects the communities of Bury Green and Theobalds/Waltham Cross.

The bridge has been named after Paul Cully, the late council officer who was a driving force behind the bridge’s opening – set to link the communities either side of the dual carriageway. Sadly, Paul never lived to see the first child use this bridge.

The event included a relay passing of the London 2012 Games host borough flag on the bridge from cyclists to walkers. Cyclists left St Mary’s High School and cycled along the route, in convoy to the new bridge. Those on foot then passed the flag along the route to Cedars Park where it was raised on the flagpole.

The link is part of a national project by the charity Sustrans called Connect2, which seeks to encourage people to make more of their everyday journeys on foot, or by bike by providing new everyday links, crossing barriers such as the A10.

Sustrans regional director, Nigel Brigham and Councillor Hazel Jackson, unveiled a portrait bench. The bench forms part of a national art project from Sustrans and features a US aviator Lieutenant Ellis, a canoeist and a badger.

In 2007, Sustrans were awarded £50m from the Big Lottery Fund for Connect2, following a public vote. Some of this grant was used for the Broxbourne project.

The opening was attended by the Leader of Broxbourne Council, Councillor Paul Mason, Mayor of Broxbourne, Councillor Eddy Rowland, representatives of Sustrans, UK’s leading sustainable transport charity, the Big Lottery Fund, community groups, as well as partners from Hertfordshire County Council and St Mary’s School.

Mayor of Broxbourne, Councillor Eddy Rowland said: “The new footpath and footbridge will enable the communities of Theobalds and Bury Green to come together and enjoy what each other has to offer. It is fitting that these celebrations started and finished in Cedars Park where so many children and families are able to enjoy the facilities and events.”

Leader of the Council, Councillor Paul Mason said: “I am tremendously proud of all the children who took part in the event today. They are the future of the borough and I hope that they are inspired by the fact that the borough is hosting the London 2012 Games and that we may even see a few of them at future Olympic Games.”