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Wisbech in Bloom

WisARD wins roundabout cash!

  WisARD was awarded £22,000 from The East of England Development Agency's 'Quality of Place' fund to help the group pay for improvements to the town's Freedom Bridge roundabout and to create a new town trail.


These projects will compliment the Nene Waterfront development by creating a gateway to the new river quarter. The Freedom Bridge roundabout landscaping will have a nautical theme, and the Waterfront development will be linked to the town centre by the creation of a new heritage 'Merchants' Trail'

This trail will tell the story of Wisbech, a town that grew on trade through its port. It will highlight the buildings, events and characters that shaped the town. The trail will be an innovative solution to self guided tours, being available as a podcast that will be downloadable onto any ipod or MP3 player direct from the internet at home or at Wisbech Tourist Information Centre. It will be available from both Fenland District Council and WisARD web sites. There will be 16 stops on the trail, marked by pavement markers, as well as an interpretation plaque adjacent to the Freedom Bridge roundabout itself, outlining the history of the port and highlighting the trail.

Wisbech in Bloom will be working with the Friends of the Rabbits to implement the new planting scheme which will incorporate old boats to act as raised beds for colourful plants and other nautical features.

Mr Richard Barnwell, Chairman of WisARD, is thrilled with the award. 'The refurbishment of the Freedom Bridge roundabout is long overdue,' he said, 'and I am pleased WisARD has been able to raise the funds to finally get this project off the ground. The 'Merchants' Trail ' will make full use of new technology, as well as helping to integrate the Nene Waterfront Development with the rest of Wisbech town centre.'

The work on the roundabout will be carried out by the Wisbech in Bloom group in conjunction with Fenland District Council, who have contributed £5,000 towards the project. Other contributions have come from WisARD (£1,000) and the Tourism Development/Wisbech in Bloom group (£1,000). The project must be completed by the end of May this year, and will be submitted into the East of England Market Towns Awards