MP hosts debate on 'valuable' National Trails

Freddie Van Mierlo has raised concerns on the condition of National Trails such as the Thames Path and the Ridgeway

An MP has said he will "continue to fight for the funding and care" that National Trails deserve.

Henley and Thame MP Freddie Van Mierlo has hosted a debate on the condition of our National Trails in Westminster Hall today, particularly focusing on the Thames Path and The Ridgeway.

Van Mierlo has been campaigning to reopen the Marsh Lock Horse Bridge, which is part of the Thames Path south of Henley-on-Thames, but was closed in 2022 over safety fears.

Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council's cabinet member for transport management, said the repair work "aims to restore damaged stretches of the towpath" and sections of it must remain closed due to the use of machinery.

Van Mierlo said the Thames Path and the Ridgeway were "valuable" and "special", delivering £1.8bn of benefit to the economy and £300m annual savings to the NHS.

"Since 2013, [we have seen] 30% cut in real terms in their funding and so I'm going to be calling today for restoration of that funding," he said.

"We've seen the number of national trails increase nationally, which is a good thing, but makes it especially challenging for local authorities and for local partnerships that manage these, to actually maintain them to the required standard."

He said the reopening of Marsh Lock Horse Bridge was responsibility of the Environment Agency (EA).

"Unfortunately, they just don't have the funding to fix this bridge, which means there's an enormous diversion that crosses a busy A road twice, and that's just totally unsuitable," the MP said.

Van Mierlo said local Airbnb owners had seen a drop in bookings over the closure of Marsh Lock Horse Bridge

The EA, which owns the bridge, previously said that decisions on "the safest and most cost-effective options" for its reopening would be made "as soon as possible".

But Van Mierlo said the closure was having "a direct impact on our economy" and on the "wellbeing and enjoyment of the river by local residents".

Mr Gant said the council "realise how popular this towpath is" and the county council's Ridgeway officer, Sarah Wright, said they wanted to "raise awareness of how to care for the trail".

"With the route being so historic, visitors could unwittingly damage irreplaceable archaeology when they park on verges," she added.