Barton Path improvements

A range of colourful artwork, information displays and environmental improvements for the Barton Path in Dover was celebrated at a launch event at the riverside path on Wednesday (18 April 2012).

The improvements follow the hard work of local people and the success of an exciting community partnership project, and a range of partners and members of the community came along for the formal opening of the works.

The project began after the London Road Community Forum carried out a successful clean up of the old scrap yard alongside the Barton Path last year. Dover District Community Safety Partnership, KCC Community Wardens, and DDC Community Development and Waste Services met to look at ways to improve the path. The Community Safety Partnership secured funding through Clean Kent and provided additional funding for the project.

Last summer, pupils from Charlton Primary School, Barton Junior School and Dover Grammar School for Girls designed elements for a 22 metre mural. This was transferred to the wall alongside the river and painted by children, local families and volunteers, working with artist Anita Luckett.

The Community Safety Partnership funded interpretation panels, which explain the history of the path and the ecology of the river. The panels also encourage dog walkers to be responsible, and give contact information for reporting community safety issues.

River cleaning equipment has been purchased to allow community groups to continue volunteer river clean ups, and new dog mess bins have been installed to encourage responsible pet exercising. A range of environmental improvements has also been carried out by the Environment Agency to enhance the river. The launch event included a free microchip tagging service for pets, and free dog mess bags were handed out.

Heidi Golden from the Community Safety Partnership said: "This is a really successful partnership project that has connected the partner agencies, the local community and schools. We want to thank all organisations that have supported the project with practical help and funding, but especially the children who worked so hard making Barton Path a more colourful place."